The Federal Government has officially completed the historic handover of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu to the private concessionaire, Aero Alliance Limited, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The formal transition, which included the signing and execution of the handover certificates, assets register, and other critical legal documentation, marks the commercial close of a process aimed at modernizing the region’s aviation infrastructure. Under the terms of the 30-year concession—originally approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025, and signed in January 2026—Aero Alliance will now take full responsibility for the financing, rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and management of the airport asset, while ownership remains firmly with the public sector.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony held at the international terminal in Enugu, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, noted that the breakthrough ends a 20-year struggle across multiple administrations to successfully concession secondary national airports. Keyamo praised the proactive roles played by President Bola Tinubu and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, whose structural commitment was instrumental in drawing private investment to an asset that had previously failed to attract a single bidder during past privatization rounds.

The concession has opened substantial economic prospects for the South-East zone. Aero Alliance unveiled immediate operational expansion plans, revealing that direct Enugu-to-Guangzhou cargo flights are scheduled to commence within the next few months to support regional trade and logistics. Furthermore, the completion of the long-delayed cargo terminal will facilitate the direct export of agricultural produce and local goods from the region.

Addressing lingering friction from the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation unions regarding worker security, the federal government reiterated that the rights and privileges of existing staff have been strictly safeguarded. Under the concession framework, no aviation workers will be retrenched or short-changed, and all existing personnel remain under the employ of the Federal Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).