…As Keyamo assures workers of protection, hails Governor Mbah’s role
The Federal Government on Thursday officially signed off the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for concession under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, ending a two-decade-long stalemate that had frustrated previous attempts to privatise the facility.
The historic ceremony, held at the airport’s new terminal, saw the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, formally transfer operational and management responsibilities to Aero Alliance Limited, marking a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s airport modernisation drive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his keynote address, Keyamo described the concession as a breakthrough that had eluded successive administrations.
“This concession plan has been on for about twenty years, but it has only become possible under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Before now, investors focused mainly on Lagos, Abuja and Kano airports. Nobody was interested in Enugu and Port Harcourt. Today, Enugu has been successfully concessioned and Port Harcourt will also be handed over within the next few weeks,” the Minister stated.
He disclosed that the success recorded with the Enugu concession had already sparked renewed investor confidence, with bids being prepared for three additional airports across the country.
The Minister reserved special praise for the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whom he credited with playing a pivotal role in attracting investors to the project.
“Governor Peter Mbah came into the office with a clear plan. Despite belonging to a different political party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed me to give him every necessary support. He brought investors to the table, and we have found in Governor Peter Mbah the perfect partner for this project,” Keyamo said.
Addressing concerns about job security, the Minister assured airport workers that their interests and welfare remained fully protected under the concession arrangement.
“When we came into office, all aviation labour unions were in court challenging the concession programme. One after another, they have withdrawn their cases after understanding our intentions. I want to assure workers that they are protected. However, it will no longer be business as usual. This airport will now be privately managed with a strong focus on efficiency, accountability and service delivery. Those who perform their duties diligently have nothing to fear,” he added.
Keyamo charged Aero Alliance Limited to justify the confidence reposed in it by the Federal Government, noting that as one of the pioneer airport concessionaires in Nigeria, its performance would set the benchmark for future concessions nationwide.
He further revealed that the Enugu State Government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate a direct flight connection between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu—a development expected to significantly boost trade, tourism and investment opportunities in the South-East region.
The ceremony attracted top government officials and key stakeholders, including Governor Peter Mbah; representatives of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who was represented by Mr. Henry Agbebire; the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh; and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Aero Alliance Limited, Saleem Aman Ullah Abdulhussain.
In his remarks, Governor Mbah described the concession as a transformative development that aligns with the state’s economic vision of positioning Enugu as a major aviation, logistics and investment hub in West Africa.
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