The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed a media report alleging that a concession duration has been agreed upon for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu.
The Enugu Airport recently came under the spotlight after Air Peace airline suspended its operations there, citing infrastructural deficiencies. In response, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria promptly shut the airport to commence emergency runway rehabilitation.
In a statement released on Monday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, Keyamo labeled the report as false.
While the minister confirmed that the government is considering airport concessions and has received proposals from various interested parties, he clarified that no final decisions have been made.
Moshood further highlighted that many airports across the country operate at a loss and require monthly government subsidies, underscoring the necessity of exploring concession arrangements.
The statement partly reads: “Whilst it is true that the Federal Government is considering proposals for the concession of five major airports, this is a proactive measure to ensure these vital facilities can meet and maintain international standards, given the increasing financial demands of their operations. Many of our airports are presently running at a loss, so they have to be subsidised each month by the Federal Government. It is noteworthy that this initiative to concession started under previous administrations.
“At this stage, prospective concessionaires have indeed submitted various proposals, including different durations for the concessions. It is important to emphasise that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has not established any fixed duration. All submitted proposals are currently undergoing thorough evaluation and will eventually be reviewed by the ICRC before being presented to the Minister for onward conveyance to FEC for approval. We can confirm that this review process has not been concluded. However, for the sake of transparency, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, directed some months ago that the Aviation Labour Unions be included as part of the negotiating teams.
“Therefore, we must state unequivocally that the information suggesting a predetermined concession duration is false, unfounded, and intended to cause unwarranted disaffection and mistrust in this process by those with entrenched interests.”
Moshood further stated: “With his training and track record, the Minister will not allow anything untoward to happen under his watch. He has so far run the Ministry in a transparent manner and will not fall into the same mistakes of the past. We will ensure that all decisions are made in the best interests of the nation and the aviation sector.”