The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu to the concessionaires, Aero Alliance Limited, under a public-private partnership arrangement.

Following the execution of the handover certificates, assets register, and other relevant documentation, Aero Alliance will now undertake the financing, rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and management of the airport, ensuring that it meets and sustains internationally recognised standards of safety, efficiency, and passenger experience.

This was even as Governor Peter Mbah described the successful concession of the airport as a major breakthrough and an opener of new economic opportunities for the South-East. Aero Alliance, however, pledged to transform AIIA into one of Africa’s leading regional aviation, logistics, and commercial hubs.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the international terminal of AIIA, Enugu, yesterday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, extolled the roles played by President Bola Tinubu and Mbah in the realisation of the long-stalled concession plan.

Keyamo said: “For 20 years, various governments have tried to concession some of our airports because of the belief that the private sector would run them more professionally and in a more commercially driven way.

“During the time of the previous administration, when almost all the airports were advertised for concession, all the bidders avoided Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. There was no bidder for Enugu and Port Harcourt. Everybody was rushing to Lagos, Kano, and Abuja because many people wanted food that was ready.

“However, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and under the visionary leadership of people like Dr Peter Mbah, the reverse is the case.

“We have no bidder presently for Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. But Enugu and Port Harcourt are gone.”

“Dr Mbah went straight to the President a few weeks after his inauguration and said, “This is my plan for the airport.” The President minuted and said that we should give him all the assistance he needs to turn Enugu into an aviation and investment hub.

“Mbah started with Enugu Air, and now he has brought in capital, brought in investors for the airport.”

He also allayed fears over job losses, noting that the terms of agreement reached by Aero Alliance were such that they would create new jobs rather than trigger job losses.

In his remark, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Ewalefor, thanked Tinubu for making the concession happen, describing it as historic and special for Nigeria.

He commended Mbah’s commitment to building infrastructure, extolling his international credibility and tenacity.

Meanwhile, Mbah lauded the Tinubu administration for the successful concession, saying that it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the journey to unlock the immense economic potential of the South-East region.

On his part, the Managing Director of Aero Alliance, Saleem Hussain, assured that the consortium would put its over three decades’ experience in the aviation sector to work, focusing on connectivity, cargo and logistics, passenger experience, commercial development, and technology and operational excellence to transform AIIA into one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs.