The Federal Government on Thursday formalised the concession of the Enugu International Airport through an agreement signed with Aero Alliance.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, during the ceremony yesterday in Abuja, said the signing of the agreement was part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure through strategic public-private partnerships.

The Enugu State delegation was led by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Obi Ozor, while the Aero Alliance team included Engr Chuks Aniekwe, Barrister Oyiwodu Okibe-Oga, Onyedikachi Nwachukwu, Kester Enwereonu, and Barrister Michael Nwaechie of Ivy Solicitors.

Also present from the Federal Government side were the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yakubu Adams Kofarmata; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku; Director, Legal Services, FAAN, Mrs Bridget Iwinose Gold, alongside other top officials of the Ministry and FAAN.

Keyamo, in his remarks, said the concession was the conclusion of a painstaking and transparent process that began several years ago.

“Today is the end of a very long and tedious process regarding the concession of the Enugu Airport,” he said, adding that the process culminated on the 31st of July, 2025, following the approval of the proposal to concession the airport by the Federal Executive Council.

He stated that following FEC approval, the Ministry, FAAN, and Aero Alliance had engaged in extensive negotiations, including consultations with aviation unions, to ensure that workers’ welfare remained a top priority.

“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,” he stressed.

Keyamo emphasised that safeguarding jobs and protecting staff interests formed a core part of the concession framework.

“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.

He, however, highlighted the need to resolve the issue of security charges and the financial model for airport operations in the coming weeks to ensure smooth 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,” the minister said.

He stated that the concession will further reposition the Enugu Airport for efficiency, improved service delivery, and enhanced passenger experience, adding that it was part of the Federal Government’s broader aviation sector reform agenda aimed at attracting private investment, improving infrastructure, boosting regional connectivity, and strengthening Nigeria’s aviation competitiveness. (The Guardian)