After nearly 20 years of planning, the federal government has officially transferred the operations of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited, marking the completion of one of Nigeria's longest-running airport concession efforts.
The handover, held at the airport's new terminal, brought together key aviation stakeholders, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah; Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalefoh; and Aero Alliance's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Saleem Aman Ullah Abdulhussain.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications, the concession is part of the federal government's strategy to modernise airport infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and attract greater private sector investment into Nigeria's aviation sector.
Keyamo described the handover as the successful conclusion of a process that had remained unresolved for about two decades. He noted that while investors had previously focused on Lagos, Abuja and Kano airports, Enugu has now joined the list of concessioned airports, with Port Harcourt expected to follow within the next few weeks.
He added that the successful transaction has boosted investor confidence, with bids already being prepared for three additional airports across the country.
The minister also commended Governor Peter Mbah for helping attract investors to the project, describing him as an important partner in bringing the concession to completion despite political differences.
Reassuring aviation workers, Keyamo said their welfare would remain protected under the new arrangement, while emphasising that the airport would now operate with stronger standards of efficiency, accountability and service delivery. He urged Aero Alliance to justify the confidence placed in it, noting that its performance would serve as a benchmark for future airport concessions in Nigeria.
The minister further disclosed that the Enugu State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate direct flights between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, a move expected to strengthen trade, tourism and investment across Nigeria's South-East.
Following the signing of the concession documents, operational control of the airport was formally handed over to Aero Alliance Limited.
Governor Peter Mbah described the concession as a transformative step that supports his administration's vision of positioning Enugu as a leading aviation, logistics and investment hub in West Africa.
The development follows the concession agreement signed by Keyamo and Aero Alliance Limited on January 22, paving the way for the airport's official transition to private management.
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