FG Hands Over Enugu Airport to Concessionaires

The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, to the concessionaires, Aero Alliance Limited, under a public-private partnership arrangement. The handover was attended by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, and other dignitaries. The Enugu Airport has been under a concession arrangement for some time now, but this marks the first time any of Nigeria's airports has been successfully handed over to concessionaires. The deal is worth millions of dollars and is expected to upgrade the airport's facilities and infrastructure.

The concession agreement was inked by President Bola Tinubu, who praised the efforts of Governor Mbah in making it happen. Mbah had approached the president with a proposal to concession the airport and the president gave him full backing. The governor is said to have brought investors to the table, which made it possible for Aero Alliance Limited to take over the airport.

Keyamo, who spoke during the handover ceremony, said the government expects Aero Alliance to discharge its responsibilities with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, operational excellence, and commitment to safety. He also allayed fears over job losses, noting that the terms of agreement reached by Aero Alliance were such that they would create new jobs rather than trigger job losses.

Governor Mbah, who commended President Tinubu for making the concession happen, described it as historic and special for Nigeria. He said the concession marked the beginning of a new chapter in the journey to unlock the immense economic potential of the South East region.

Aero Alliance has vowed to transform the AIIA into one of Africa's leading regional aviation, logistics, and commercial hubs. The company's managing director, Saleem Hussain, was present at the handover ceremony and assured that Aero Alliance would work closely with all stakeholders to achieve this goal.

The Enugu Airport has been a neglected facility for some time now, and this concession agreement may be just what it needs to get back on its feet. We will be following this story closely and will bring you updates as more information becomes available.

A quote from Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, 'We expect Aero Alliance to discharge its responsibilities with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, operational excellence, and commitment to safety.'

The handover ceremony was attended by dignitaries from all over Nigeria and it marked a significant moment in the history of the Enugu Airport. This concession agreement is expected to boost economic activity in the South East region and create thousands of jobs for Nigerians. We will be following this story closely and will bring you updates as more information becomes available.

The Enugu Airport has been a neglected facility for some time now, and this concession agreement may be just what it needs to get back on its feet.

With this concession arrangement, Aero Alliance will have control over the airport's daily operations, including passenger services, security, and infrastructure maintenance. The company will also be responsible for upgrading the airport's facilities and infrastructure to meet international standards.

The concession agreement is expected to attract more investors to the airport and create new business opportunities for Nigerians. We will be following this story closely and will bring you updates as more information becomes available.