THE recent concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu, which was formally handed to Aero Alliance Limited under a 30-year Public-Private Partnership arrangement supported by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, is being met with fierce opposition.
Prominent groups, like the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), have decried the contract as an injustice to Ndigbo, pointing out that Enugu International Airport is now the only one of Nigeria’s six international airports that is entirely funded and controlled by a private company.
Airport workers disrupted flight operations and opposed the handover, citing a lack of prior engagement regarding labour rights, inventory taking, and their overall welfare
Critics are outraged that the federal government awarded this massive project to a firm theyclaim has no visible history of managing an airport of this size.
Opponents warn that withdrawing federal funding will compromise critical safety infrastructure, operational efficiency, and overall passenger experience.
Despite the criticism, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah strongly support the deal, claiming that the PPP concession will finally bring much-needed upgrades, such as a cargo terminal and extended runways, establishing the state as a major logistical and investment hub in West Africa.