The Federal Government has formally handed over Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to private consortium Aero Alliance Limited, marking the first successful airport concession in Nigeria after more than two decades of stalled attempts. The agreement was signed on Thursday, 26 June 2026, at the airport's new terminal by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo.
Under the arrangement, Aero Alliance Limited will be responsible for financing, rehabilitating, expanding, operating and managing the airport, with the goal of transforming it into a major aviation and logistics hub in West Africa. Ownership of the airport remains with the federal government, while operational responsibility transfers to the concessionaire for the agreed term, with the upgraded facility reverting to government control at the end of the concession period.
A Reversal of Investor Interest
Keyamo noted that previous concession attempts over the past 20 years had failed particularly for Enugu and Port Harcourt, with investors historically preferring Lagos, Abuja and Kano. "Today, the reverse is the case. We currently have no bidder for Lagos, Abuja and Kano, but Enugu and Port Harcourt are already gone," he said. The minister added that Port Harcourt International Airport's concession was expected to be finalised within weeks, and that bids were already being prepared for three additional airports.
Governor's Backing and Worker Assurances
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who played a role in attracting investors to the project, described the concession as a transformative development aligned with the state's vision of positioning Enugu as a major aviation, logistics and investment hub. Keyamo sought to allay concerns among aviation workers, assuring them that jobs and welfare would be protected under the new arrangement, after labour unions had initially challenged the wider concession programme in court before withdrawing their cases following engagement with the federal government.