The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has debunked claims that the federal government has concluded plans to concession the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for 80 years, describing such reports as baseless and false.
Keyamo clarified that while the federal government is indeed considering concession proposals for five major international airports, including Enugu, no fixed duration has been agreed upon.
The affected airports are:
- Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
- Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos
- Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano
- Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa
- Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu
According to Keyamo, the concession plan is part of a broader effort to maintain international standards and address the financial strain of operating the airports. “Many of our airports are presently running at a loss and have to be subsidised monthly by the federal government,” he said.
He noted that the concession initiative was inherited from previous administrations, particularly under former Minister Hadi Sirika, who had consistently pledged to concession major airports during President Buhari’s tenure.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Tunde Moshood, Keyamo said the government is currently evaluating various concession proposals submitted by prospective investors, each with differing terms, including the proposed duration of concession.
“No specific concession term has been approved,” the statement read. “All submissions are undergoing thorough evaluation and will be reviewed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) before presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval.”
To ensure transparency, Keyamo directed that aviation labour unions be part of the negotiating teams. He warned against misinformation aimed at undermining the process.
“We remain committed to a transparent and accountable process,” the statement added. “The Minister will ensure all decisions are made in the best interest of the nation and the aviation sector.”
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze.
