The Nigerian government has dismissed circulating reports that it has agreed to an 80-year concession deal for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
In a statement released by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the government described the claims as “utterly baseless and untrue.”
There were reports that the Nigerian government’s 80-year concession deal with Aero Alliance Consortium was nearing completion.
According to reports, the deal will hand over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, to the concessionaire for the next eight decades under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
The reports had noted that the draft contract covers all the details of the arrangement as it touches on airport upgrades, revenue-sharing and the handling of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff.
It was reported that the 64-page agreement detailed guidelines for the 80-year long arrangement and here are some highlights.
However, the Ministry clarified that while the government is currently reviewing proposals for the concession of five major airports, including Enugu, no agreement has been finalised — especially not one involving such an extended period.
“This initiative did not begin with the current administration. The process to concession key airports was inherited from previous governments as part of efforts to modernise facilities and align them with international standards,” the statement read.
Moshood explained that many Nigerian airports are currently operating at a loss and are being subsidised monthly by the Federal Government.
Moshood stated that the concession process is therefore seen as a strategic and necessary step to ease financial burdens and attract private investment for sustainability.
According to the Ministry, multiple concession proposals have been received, each suggesting different durations, but none has yet been approved.
All submissions, according to Moshood, are undergoing rigorous evaluation, after which they will be reviewed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval.
“For the sake of transparency, the Minister Festus Keyamo, SAN, has included Aviation Labour Unions in the ongoing negotiations, a move aimed at ensuring inclusivity and accountability,” Moshood stated.
He emphasised that no fixed concession duration has been determined and urged the public to disregard speculative reports.
“The information suggesting a predetermined concession period is false, unfounded, and intended to sow disaffection and mistrust by those with vested interests,” he said.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to due process and national interest, the statement concluded by assuring the public that Minister Keyamo would not permit any irregularities under his watch.
“The Minister has consistently demonstrated transparency and a refusal to repeat past mistakes. Every decision taken will serve the best interests of the aviation sector and the Nigerian people,” Moshood affirmed.
