Tinubu's Concession of Enugu Airport Sparks Mixed Reactions

The Federal Government recently completed the handover of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, promising to turn the South East’s only international gateway into a leading aviation hub.

The concession, approved by the Federal Executive Council on July 31, 2025, ends a process that has spanned over 20 years and faced opposition from unions, political groups, and residents. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, who performed the handover at the airport’s international terminal, said the private sector would run the airport “more professionally and in a more commercially driven manner.”

How we got here: 

The move to concession the airport has long been part of federal airport reform plans but stalled due to institutional, political, and legal hurdles. Aviation unions including NUATE, ATSSSAN, and ANAP opposed the plan, citing fears of job losses, weakened benefits, reduced government control, and what they saw as creeping privatization. Their resistance prompted government assurances that workers’ interests would be protected.

Public backlash intensified in 2025 when reports of a draft agreement suggesting an 80-year lease surfaced. Many in the South East viewed it as an outright sale. The Federal Government clarified that ownership remains with the state, with only operations and management transferred under PPP.

Concerns also trailed the bidding process, value for money, and protection of regional economic interests. Stakeholders demanded transparency, reasonable airport charges, and guarantees that local businesses would benefit. The process moved forward only after regulatory reviews and further stakeholder engagement.

Terms of the deal: 

Aero Alliance will finance, rehabilitate, expand, operate, and manage the airport to meet international standards for safety, efficiency, and passenger experience. Keyamo said Governor Peter Mbah requested the concession to position Enugu as an aviation and investment hub. He added that the agreement would create jobs, not cut them.

Governor Mbah called the concession “a major breakthrough” that opens new economic opportunities for the South East, citing long-standing logistics constraints for regional businesses. Aero Alliance Managing Director Saleem Hussain said the firm would leverage over three decades of aviation experience to focus on connectivity, cargo and logistics, passenger experience, commercial development, and technology.

Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission DG, Dr. Jobson Ewalefor, disclosed that Enugu Air has signed an agreement for Guangzhou-to-Enugu flights, which he said would boost viability.

Igbo leaders push back: 

Four days after the handover, the Igbo Leaders of Thought led by Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi rejected the concession. The group accused the Tinubu administration of singling out the South East for privatization, calling it “another grave act of injustice” and “further escalation of the prolonged marginalisation of the region.”

ILT questioned why Enugu is the only one of Nigeria’s six international airports slated for private management while the others remain under federal control. “As of today, there is currently no active private concessionaire operating any of the other five international airports in Nigeria… Why should the case of Enugu International Airport, the only international airport in the South East be different?” the group asked.

They warned that withdrawing federal funding could compromise safety infrastructure and operations, arguing that none of the six international airports is profitable and all rely on government funding. The group cited the Federal Government’s recent cancellation of the concession bidding for Murtala Mohammed International Airport’s international terminal in Lagos, opting instead for a N712 billion rebuild through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.

“Festus Keyamo claimed during the handover ceremony that there are bidders for the other five international airports. Why did he not wait for the bidding processes to be concluded, so that all the six international airports would be handed over to concessionaires at the same time, why the haste in handing over Enugu International Airport?” ILT said.

They noted the airport was established in the 1950s by the Old Eastern Region government, upgraded to international status in 2007, and received N14 billion in upgrades under Yar’Adua and Jonathan. President Buhari approved N10 billion for runway work in 2019, inaugurated in 2020. The group also flagged aviation union concerns about the opaque nature of the concession and alleged ties between the concessionaire and state officials.

Aviation insiders see upside: 

Some aviation practitioners of Igbo origin described the fears as “largely uninformed” and pointed to the long-running MMA2 concession in Lagos as a success.

Onyekachi Eze, an aviation player, said the concession would boost operations, attract international traffic, improve cargo movement, and raise Enugu’s revenue. He stressed that the Federal Government retains regulatory oversight through FAAN, NCAA, and ICAO standards. “The operator must add value to the airport services… He wants to drive cargo and agricultural produce through the airport, and now there is a proposal for weekly flights from Guangzhou,” Eze said.

He added that improved operations could see Ethiopian Airlines deploy larger aircraft on the Enugu route, which he said was hurt by the Monday sit-at-home orders that pushed travelers to Abuja and Lagos. On jobs, Eze said FAAN and NAMA workers are protected under the agreement. He cautioned against raising toll gate charges, warning it could discourage travelers. He also alleged that traders using South East ports and airports face bottlenecks, especially from customs, and said an efficient concession could eliminate them.

Aviation Roundtable promoter, Titus Agbo, said the deal should increase passenger traffic, modernize infrastructure, and attract private investment. He expects user charges to rise as the investor seeks to recover costs, but said upgrades would outweigh added fees. Passengers, he said, could see electronic display systems, automated check-in, and free Wi-Fi. He noted the airport’s clinic could be developed into a commercial health facility under the concession.

Agbo stressed that the actual improvements depend on the terms of the agreement. “We need to see the specifics of the agreement with the Federal Government to know the extent of what will be expected from the investor.”

The Federal Government says the concession is part of efforts to attract private investment, improve efficiency, and enhance service delivery at Nigeria’s airports.