1 week Ago By Samuel Nwite
The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed reports claiming it has reached a final agreement for a long-term concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, describing the speculation—particularly around an alleged 80-year lease—as “baseless and inaccurate.” In a statement released on Monday, Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said the Ministry has not signed any agreement on the airport’s concession, even though it is true that the government is reviewing several proposals to privatize the management of five major airports, including Enugu. “Our attention has been drawn to certain online reports/stories suggesting that a certain lengthy period of concession has been agreed upon regarding the Enugu International Airport.
These reports/stories are utterly baseless and untrue,” the statement read. Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 17 (June 9 – Sept 6, 2025 ) today for early bird discounts. Do annual for access to Blucera.
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Register to become a better CEO or Director with Tekedia CEO & Director Program . Moshood explained that while proposals for airport concessions are under review, none have received final approval. “At this stage, prospective concessionaires have indeed submitted various proposals, including different durations for the concession.
It is important to emphasize that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has not established any fixed duration,” he stated. The Federal Ministry of Aviation had earlier listed Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu airports among those proposed for concession under a broader Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. The Ministry reaffirmed that this strategy is aimed at improving service quality and reducing the financial burden of maintaining these facilities, many of which are not profitable.
Financial Strain Behind the Push for Concessions While the public debate has focused largely on the politics of concessions, especially in the South East, the government insists that the initiative is not new, nor politically motivated. According to the Ministry, the plan dates back to previous administrations and is driven by the harsh financial reality that most of Nigeria’s airports operate at a loss and depend heavily on federal subsidies to survive. This financial strain has forced the government to explore models of private sector participation to modernize and sustain airport operations in line with international standards.
“This is a proactive measure to ensure these vital facilities can meet and maintain international standards, given the increasing financial demands of their operations,” the Ministry’s statement read. But Monday’s clarification also appears to be a response to growing public suspicion and backlash after reports began circulating that an 80-year concession had already been quietly approved for Enugu airport. The idea of such a long-term agreement without public input raised concerns about transparency, equity, and federal commitment to regional development.
Although the Ministry stressed its commitment to transparency and accountability in all concession arrangements, the episode raises deeper questions about how Nigeria communicates and executes public-private partnerships in critical sectors. Public distrust is often triggered by the government’s poor record of consultation and lack of consistent disclosure around concession agreements. The case of the Enugu airport shows that even speculation, if not quickly countered, can derail or complicate efforts to attract private investment.
It also reveals the sensitivity of infrastructure decisions in regions that feel marginalized by federal projects and allocations. Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has previously pledged to restore trust in the process by ensuring that all concession decisions are in line with due process and carried out with “integrity and in a nationally beneficial framework.” Why This Matters for Nigeria’s Digital and Economic Future The airport concession saga also points to a larger economic issue, Nigeria’s struggle to modernize its infrastructure without crippling public finances.
In many parts of the world, airports serve as gateways not only for people but for commerce, technology, and investment – something Keyamo seems to be trying to replicate in Nigeria with the concessions. However, the controversy surrounding the duration of the concessions underlines fundamental challenges in the Nigerian political system. They include how to attract private investment into essential infrastructure without triggering fears of exploitation, marginalization, and corruption.
For regions like the South East, whose residents have long demanded more equitable federal infrastructure, any sign of exclusion or secrecy feeds into a historical narrative of neglect..
