The recently concessioned Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, has reignited old controversy over the fate of affected workers in the event of a regime change in airport management and ownership. With unions aggrieved by unresolved labour issues and transparency concerns, the new traction in Enugu faces a turbulent future, OLUSEGUN KOIKI reports.

After more than a decade of fits, starts and unfulfilled promises, the Federal Government’s plan to concession Nigeria’s airports appeared to record a breakthrough last week with the handover of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, to a private operator.

But instead of ending the long-running debate, the move has reignited old tensions within the aviation sector, raising questions about process, transparency and workers’ welfare.

Successive administrations have touted airport concessioning as the solution to Nigeria’s decaying aviation infrastructure and chronic funding gaps.

Under former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports were slated for concession. Despite repeated assurances, the plan failed to materialise, leaving the reform agenda stalled.

Against this background, the decision by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to concession Enugu airport, which was not among the initial four, surprised many industry watchers. Nonetheless, government officials describe the deal as a positive step, with the airport reportedly concessioned to Aero Alliance Consortium.

It is also established that the concession has the backing of the Enugu State Government. In 2023, Governor Peter Mbah unveiled plans to develop a cargo facility at the airport to support the storage and airlift of agricultural produce for export.

Two years later, he reiterated this vision during a meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, stressing the need to expand the airport’s infrastructure in line with the state’s economic development agenda.

Despite this alignment between federal and state authorities, the process has drawn sharp criticism from labour unions and some industry analysts.

Concerns centre on the lack of clarity around the concession model, tenure, transparency, and the fate of FAAN staff currently working at the airport.

Industry unions that include the Air Transport Senior Staff Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) have openly opposed the exercise.

In a joint letter dated January 26, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, seen by The Guardian, the unions alleged that their representatives on the concession committee were sidelined.

They further accused the ministry of ignoring labour-related provisions intended to be embedded in the concession contract after an understanding on workers’ issues had reportedly been reached. To press home their demands, union members recently staged a mass protest at the Enugu airport, warning of possible industrial unrest if their concerns were not addressed.

Yet, even among critics, there is a broad agreement that private-sector participation is critical to reviving Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure and boosting the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Many stakeholders argue that concessioning, if properly executed, remains the most viable path to modernisation.

An agent representing foreign airline operators in Nigeria, Hassan Ejibunu, described the concessioning of Enugu airport as overdue. He told The Guardian that decades of government control had left the facility in a state of serious infrastructural decay.

“Since its commissioning nearly 50 years ago, there has been little to show in terms of real infrastructural growth, despite periodic palliative interventions by government,” Ejibunu said.

“The level of decay is alarming and calls for urgent attention. Concessioning remains the best alternative.”

According to him, a private investor is expected to inject the capital needed to upgrade the airport to international standards comparable to those in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and parts of Europe.

“Most of these airports are not government-run; they are operated by private companies through concession or privatisation,” he added.

Aviation analyst Samuel Caulcrick also said concessioning could add significant value to the sector, improve passenger experience, and enhance Nigeria’s global aviation standing.

However, he stressed that transparency and accountability were crucial.

“For infrastructure upgrades to truly improve air travel, 100 per cent of the capital brought in by the concessionaire must go into upgrading Enugu airport. The ministry must respond to public demand for details, and quickly,” Caulcrick said.

Another aviation expert, Frank Oruye, argued that concessioning could break the cycle of inefficiency that has plagued publicly run utilities. He said private participation would improve service delivery, introduce business discipline, and reduce political interference.

Oruye said: “Over the years, public utilities run as parastatals have floundered largely because of government interference, from procurement to the imposition of unqualified personnel.

But transparency is key. Without clearly stated goals and an open bidding process, the public cannot assess whether the desired outcomes are being achieved.”

He also raised questions about the concessionaire’s identity. “I searched online for Aero Alliance Consortium, and what came up was a high-tech aerospace company in North Texas,” he said.

“Is this the same company that won the Enugu airport concession? These are legitimate questions.”

Some professionals have opted for caution. Amos Akpan, an aviation practitioner, declined to comment, citing the lack of publicly available information on the transaction.

“I have not seen any tender invitation, bid opening, or published criteria. I don’t know the company that won the bid, nor the contents of the agreement. Any comment would be blind,” Akpan said.

As the controversy deepens, the Enugu airport concession has become a litmus test for the credibility of Nigeria’s aviation reform drive.

Whether it emerges as a model for infrastructure renewal or another chapter in the sector’s troubled history may ultimately depend on how quickly the government addresses lingering questions around transparency, labour inclusion, and accountability.