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The three leading unions in the Nigerian aviation industry will today meet over the Federal Government’s concessioning of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu.
This is as aviation expert, Charles Amokwu, has advised the unions to cooperate fully with the Federal Government on the concessioning project, which has lingered for over a decade.
The unions –Air Transport Staff Senior Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), led by their general secretaries, would meet at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos to deliberate on the concessioning of the airport, which our source described as “a bombshell”.
One of the union leaders, who does not want his name in print, alleged that the concessioning of the airport did not follow due process.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had announced on Thursday the concession of Enugu Airport after over a year of negotiations with bidders.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in his comment, had described the signing as the conclusion of a “painstaking and tedious process” that had lasted several years, involving negotiations, due diligence and consultations with key stakeholders, including aviation unions.
Keyamo explained that the concession was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025.
He assured that the agreement prioritised the welfare of airport workers, amid persistent concerns by aviation unions over job losses arising from concession exercises, stressing that aviation workers at the Enugu airport would retain their status as federal employees.
However, the ministry was silent on the concession’s tenure, a situation that had raised concerns among unions and some industry experts.
An earlier report claimed that the airport was concessioned to the Aero Alliance Consortium for 80 years under the finance, rehabilitation, operation, and transfer model, a claim the ministry debunked and remains silent on the concession’s tenure. (Guardian)
