FG Hands Over Enugu International Airport to Aero Alliance, Hails Mbah’s Vision

…Cargo Flights to Guangzhou Set to Begin Within Months

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…As Governor Says Concession Opens New Economic Frontier for South-East

The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession, marking a historic milestone in Nigeria’s aviation sector and opening a new chapter in the economic development of the South-East.

The formal transfer, concluded with the signing of handover certificates, asset registers, and other statutory documents, empowers Aero Alliance to finance, rehabilitate, expand, operate, and manage the airport in line with internationally recognised standards of safety, operational efficiency, and passenger experience.

The handover ceremony, held at the airport’s international terminal on Thursday, brought together top government officials, aviation stakeholders, and business leaders who described the concession as a transformative step for both the aviation industry and the nation’s economy.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, credited the successful concession to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the strategic vision of Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah. He noted that successive administrations had attempted for over two decades to concession major airports without attracting investors to Enugu and Port Harcourt.

According to the minister, Governor Mbah approached President Tinubu shortly after assuming office with a comprehensive blueprint to transform Enugu into a regional aviation and investment hub.

“Governor Peter Mbah came into office with a plan. He didn’t begin by assessing the problems; he arrived with practical solutions. Today, we are witnessing the fruits of that vision,” Keyamo stated.

The minister also assured aviation workers that the concession would create more employment opportunities rather than lead to job losses, while urging Aero Alliance to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, operational excellence, and safety.

Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Ewalefor, described the concession as a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s infrastructure development. He attributed its success largely to Governor Mbah’s credibility, persistence, and strategic leadership, stressing that the governor’s reputation inspired investor confidence.

Ewalefor further disclosed that direct cargo flights between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, are expected to commence within the next few months, alongside the operations of Enugu Air, developments he said would significantly improve the airport’s commercial viability.

Governor Peter Mbah described the concession as the beginning of a new economic era for the South-East, saying it would eliminate longstanding logistics challenges that have hindered businesses across the region. He explained that improved air connectivity would reduce transportation costs, shorten delivery timelines, strengthen competitiveness, and position Enugu as a strategic gateway for commerce, investment, tourism, and international trade.

“We hope future generations will remember this day as the moment Akanu Ibiam International Airport began its transformation into a truly world-class gateway connecting the South-East to the global economy,” the governor said.

Mbah thanked President Tinubu for supporting the initiative and commended Aero Alliance for believing in the enormous economic potential of Enugu State. He also encouraged local and international investors to take advantage of the state’s expanding investment opportunities.

Managing Director of Aero Alliance Limited, Saleem Hussain, assured stakeholders that the consortium would deploy its more than three decades of aviation expertise to reposition Akanu Ibiam International Airport as one of Africa’s foremost aviation, cargo, logistics, and commercial hubs.

He said the company would prioritise infrastructure upgrades, cargo expansion, improved passenger experience, commercial development, technological innovation, and operational excellence to deliver a world-class airport that would serve as a major regional gateway.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire; Enugu State Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor; and FAAN Regional General Manager, Hillary Umunna, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the success of the concession for the socioeconomic benefit of the South-East and Nigeria as a whole.

The concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport is widely regarded as one of the most significant aviation reforms in recent years. Beyond modernising airport infrastructure, it is expected to stimulate regional economic growth, create thousands of jobs, strengthen international trade through cargo operations, attract fresh investments, and firmly establish Enugu as one of Africa’s emerging aviation, logistics, and commercial gateways.