Ndigbo, aviation experts differ over FG’s concession of Akanu Ibiam Int’l Airport Enugu

After more than two decades of discussions and hurdles, Nigeria's federal government has officially transferred the operational and management rights of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to concessionaires Aero Alliance. The handover marks a significant step in the long-planned reform of the airport, which the concessionaires have pledged to develop into a leading aviation hub in Africa.

The path to this agreement was fraught with difficulties. Aviation workers' unions, including NUATE, ATSSSAN, and ANAP, voiced strong opposition, fearing job losses and diminished worker benefits. Public criticism also emerged, fueled by the perception that the airport was being sold outright, especially when reports of an 80-year lease surfaced.

To address these concerns, the federal government emphasized that the airport's ownership would remain with the government. The arrangement is a public-private partnership, not a sale, designed to improve infrastructure and protect regional economic interests. These clarifications and intensified stakeholder engagement were crucial in overcoming institutional, political, and public perception challenges that had delayed the process for years.