Keyamo Signs Off Enugu Airport Concession After 20 Years

Keyamo Signs Off Enugu Airport Concession After 20 Years

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has officially signed off the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, marking a major milestone in the Federal Government’s airport modernisation programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, Keyamo described the development as a historic breakthrough, noting that efforts to concession the airport had remained unsuccessful for about two decades until the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the minister, investor interest had traditionally been concentrated on major airports in Lagos, Abuja and Kano, leaving facilities such as Enugu and Port Harcourt without serious private-sector attention.

“This concession plan has been on for about twenty years, but it has only become possible under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Keyamo said.

“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.”

He disclosed that the successful conclusion of the Enugu concession had renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with bids already being prepared for three additional airports across the country.

Keyamo also commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for his role in attracting investors and driving the project forward.

“Governor Peter Mbah came into the office with a clear plan. Despite belonging to a different political party, President Bola Tinubu directed me to give him every necessary support,” the minister said.

“He brought investors to the table, and we have found in Governor Peter Mbah the perfect partner for this project.”

Addressing concerns over the impact of the concession on workers, Keyamo assured airport employees that their welfare and interests would remain protected under the new arrangement.

He further challenged the concessionaire, Aero Alliance Limited, to justify the confidence reposed in it by the federal government, noting that its performance would serve as a benchmark for future airport concessions nationwide.

The minister also revealed that the Enugu State Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at establishing a direct flight connection between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu, a move expected to boost trade, tourism and investment opportunities in the South-East region.

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 leading aviation, logistics and investment hub in West Africa.

The concession of the airport is expected to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, improve operational efficiency and attract greater private-sector participation in Nigeria’s aviation industry, while strengthening Enugu’s role as a key gateway for commerce and investment in the South-East

The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, today, officially signed off the airport for concession under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to deepen airport modernisation.

In his keynote address, the minister described the concession as a historic breakthrough, revealing that plans to concession the airport had lingered for over two decades without success.

He said “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.”

He disclosed that the success recorded with the Enugu concession has sparked renewed investor confidence, with bids already being prepared for three additional airports across the country.

Special adviser to the minister on media, Tunde Moshood said the minister commended Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah for his visionary leadership and strategic 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 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.

Speaking on labour concerns, the minister assured airport workers that their interests and welfare remain protected under the concession arrangement.

The minister further charged the concessionaire, 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 also disclosed that the Enugu State Government has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating a direct flight connection between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu, a development expected to boost trade, tourism and investment opportunities in the South-East region.

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.