The Enugu State Caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed strong support for the federal government’s plan to concession the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, calling it a potential catalyst for the South East economy.
The caucus commended the initiative, urging the federal government to expedite the concession process to ensure the people of the South East and the entire nation reap the benefits. It also appealed to the region’s citizens to back the move, emphasizing that the concession is the only viable path to attracting sustainable investment for the airport’s full development into a world-class international facility.
This position was conveyed in a statement signed on Monday by caucus leader Nnolim Nnaji, along with Martins Oke, Dennis Agbo, Anayo Onwuegbu, Chimaobi Atu, Sunday Umeha, Paul Nnamchi and Mark Obetta, representatives from all eight federal constituencies in Enugu State.
“Due to inadequate capital investment, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport remains partially completed and, after over two decades since its designation as an international airport, is only international in name. Critical infrastructure such as the cargo terminal, runway, and international terminal are either unfinished or in need of upgrade,” the statement noted.
The caucus pointed out that the South East businesses and residents have suffered from the airport’s inadequacies, citing limited international flights and frequent closures for runway repairs, most recently experienced.
“We believe that the concessioning process currently underway is the most realistic way to secure the resources needed to develop and expand the airport to meet global standards,” the caucus continued.
The statement clarified that concessioning is not the same as privatisation or sale, as some have suggested. Instead, it is a well-established Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that attracts private capital into public infrastructure while allowing the government to retain ownership and regulatory oversight.
“We urge the federal government to expedite the process so that the people of the South East, and Nigeria as a whole, can begin to benefit from the tremendous opportunities it offers. We also trust that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development will ensure that AIIA is entrusted to a concessionaire with the financial and technical expertise, a strong international reputation, and a proven track record of success. Anything less will not be acceptable and will fail to stimulate the much-needed economic growth and transformation in the South East,” the statement noted.