The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards modernising Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure with the formal signing of the concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The signing ceremony, which held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Abuja, marked a major milestone in the government’s drive to reposition key airports through strategic public-private partnerships.
The event brought together officials of the Enugu State Government, representatives of Aero Alliance – the airport’s concessionaire – and top officials of the Federal Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The Enugu State delegation was led by the Honourable Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor, while the Aero Alliance team comprised Engr. Chuks Aniekwe, Barrister Oyiwodu Okibe-Oga, Onyedikachi Nwachukwu, Kester Enwereonu, and Barrister Michael Nwaechie of Ivy Solicitors.
On the Federal Government side were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Yakubu Adams Kofarmata; the Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; and the Director of Legal Services at FAAN, Mrs. Bridget Iwinose Gold, alongside other senior officials.
Leading the signing procession, Minister Keyamo described the ceremony as the culmination of a long, detailed and transparent process that began several years ago. He recalled that the Federal Executive Council granted approval for the concession of the Enugu Airport on July 31, 2025, subject to the conclusion of contractual agreements.
“Today is the end of a very long and tedious process regarding the concession of the Enugu Airport. The process culminated on the 31st of July, 2025, when the Federal Executive Council approved the proposal to concession the Enugu Airport, subject of course to contract,” Keyamo said.
He explained that following the Council’s approval, the Ministry, FAAN and Aero Alliance engaged in extensive negotiations, including consultations with aviation unions, to ensure that the welfare of workers was fully protected under the concession arrangement.
According to him, the rights and privileges of aviation workers were prioritised throughout the process.
“We did these agreements with the rights and privileges of workers uppermost in our minds. Let me say today that we have fully respected and preserved the rights of aviation workers. They have not been retrenched, their terms and conditions of employment have not changed in any way, and they remain workers of the Federal Government and FAAN,” the Minister stated.
Keyamo further emphasised that job security and staff interests formed a central pillar of the concession framework, assuring stakeholders that no aviation worker had been disadvantaged by the agreement. He noted that all critical areas had been addressed before the signing of the concession document.
“The workers have not been short-changed in any way at all. Their jobs are safe and protected. Having taken care of the rights of workers, we then addressed other critical issues and virtually covered all areas before the signing of this agreement,” he added.
While announcing the conclusion of the main concession agreement, the Minister disclosed that two outstanding operational matters – security charges and the airport’s financial operating model – would be finalised in the coming weeks to ensure seamless implementation.
“There are two little issues after signing, in terms of operationalising the agreement, regarding security fees and the financial model of the airport. These will be resolved in the next few weeks. But as far as the main concession is concerned, we have agreed to concession the Enugu Airport to Aero Alliance today,” he said.
Keyamo described the event as historic, expressing optimism that the concession would reposition the Akanu Ibiam International Airport for greater efficiency, improved service delivery and enhanced passenger experience.
The concession of the Enugu Airport forms part of the Federal Government’s wider aviation sector reform programme aimed at attracting private investment, upgrading infrastructure, improving regional connectivity and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness within the global aviation industry.
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