Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed claims that a long-term concession agreement has been finalized for Enugu International Airport.
Keyamo acknowledged that the federal government is considering airport concessions and has received proposals from interested parties, but clarified that no decisions have been made.
In a statement by his media adviser, Tunde Moshood, the minister described the recent report as “baseless and untrue.”
The issue gained attention shortly after Air Peace suspended operations at Enugu airport, citing infrastructural issues.
This led the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to temporarily close the airport for emergency runway repairs.
Moshood explained that many Nigerian airports operate at a loss and rely on monthly government subsidies, which justifies exploring concession options.
“The Federal Government is considering proposals to concession five major airports to ensure they meet global standards,” the statement said.
“While different durations have been proposed, no fixed term has been approved.”
All proposals are still under evaluation and will be reviewed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) before being forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval.
Keyamo has also included aviation labour unions in the negotiation process to ensure transparency.
“The claims about a predetermined concession period are entirely false and aimed at sowing distrust,” the ministry stated.
Responding to union concerns about secrecy, Moshood assured that the process remains open and accountable.
“With his experience and commitment, the Minister will not allow any misconduct.
All decisions will prioritize the interests of the country and the aviation sector,” he added.