en.Wedoany.com Reported - Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed an agreement at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, granting a concession of the airport to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
In his keynote speech, the Minister described the concession as a significant milestone, revealing that the plan had been stalled for over two decades. Keyamo stated that the project was realized under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Previously, investors had focused primarily on the airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, showing little interest in Enugu and Port Harcourt. The successful concession of Enugu Airport has now been achieved, with the handover of Port Harcourt Airport expected within the coming weeks. This concession has rekindled investor confidence, and three other airports across the country are being prepared for bidding.
The Minister commended Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for his visionary leadership and strategic role in attracting investors, calling him the perfect partner for the project. Addressing labor concerns, Keyamo assured airport employees that their interests and welfare would remain protected under the concession arrangement. All aviation unions had previously challenged the concession plan in court but have since withdrawn their lawsuits after understanding the government's intentions. The Minister emphasized that the airport would be managed privately, focusing on efficiency, accountability, and service delivery, and that diligent employees had nothing to fear. He urged Aero Alliance Limited to uphold the government's trust, noting that its performance would set a benchmark for future concessions nationwide.
Keyamo also revealed that the Enugu State Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating direct flights between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu, which is expected to boost trade, tourism, and investment opportunities in the Southeast region.
The ceremony, held at the airport's new terminal, attracted aviation officials and key stakeholders, including the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Adam Kambari, represented by Peter Vembe; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, represented by Henry Agbebire; the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh; the Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Aviation, Jummia Adaramola; and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Alliance Limited, Saleem Aman Ullah Abdulhussain.
The event was part of the federal government's commitment under President Tinubu's "Renewed Hope Agenda" to modernize airport infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, and attract private sector investment in the aviation industry. Following the Minister's address, a formal handover ceremony took place, with the signing of concession documents transferring the operation and management responsibilities of the airport to Aero Alliance Limited.
Governor Mbah described the concession as a transformative development, aligning with the state's economic vision to position Enugu as a major aviation, logistics, and investment hub in West Africa. The concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport ushers in a new era of government-private sector collaboration, laying the foundation for infrastructure development, world-class passenger experiences, and sustainable growth in Nigeria's aviation industry.
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