FG Hands Over Enugu Airport to Private Firm
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has officially signed a major agreement to hand over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to a private company.
This move is part of a plan to use private money and expertise to fix and manage big public facilities across the country.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), which is the body that watches over such deals, said this is a very important step. They believe it will help modernize the airport and make the economy of the South-East region much stronger.
According to a statement from the ICRC, the deal was signed between the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on one side, and a company called Aero Alliance Limited on the other side. The commission said this shows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is serious about working with the private sector to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure.
Before the papers were signed, the ICRC made sure everything followed the law. They checked the business plans, did a proper background check on the partners, and made sure the Federal Executive Council and the Ministry of Justice approved the contract.
The Director-General of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, said this signing tells the world that Nigeria is ready for more private business people to help build the country. He noted that the project is now ready to move from paper to actual work.
“This concession will strengthen the airport’s role as a vital gateway for the Southeast States by enhancing connectivity and providing essential links to domestic and international destinations—supporting tourism, trade and broader economic growth across the region,” Dr. Ewalefoh said.
He further explained that the government wants to use private funds to make sure national assets like airports are well-managed and last a long time, just like it is done in other parts of the world. He added that the Enugu airport deal is part of a larger plan to make sure these types of projects happen faster and smoother.
Dr. Ewalefoh also praised the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his hard work in making the state a place where big businesses want to come and invest. He said the Governor’s leadership was key to getting this deal done. He told other governors to follow the lead of states like Enugu, Ondo, Cross River, and Lagos, which are using these kinds of partnerships to bring in money and development.
The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, was also thanked for his role in bringing private business into the aviation industry. The ICRC promised to keep supporting the government agencies as the work on the airport begins, following the President’s “Renewed Hope” plan.
