By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has dismissed online reports suggesting that a lengthy concession period has already been agreed upon for the Enugu International Airport.
Keyamo labelled the reports as “utterly baseless and untrue,” asserting that while the Federal Government is considering proposals for the concession of five major airports, including Enugu, no fixed duration has been decided.
The minister clarified that the ongoing evaluation process of the concession proposals remains incomplete and has yet to reach any final decisions.
“It is true that the Federal Government is exploring various proposals for the concession of our major airports, but the notion of a predetermined concession duration is completely false,” Keyamo stated. “These reports are an attempt to sow mistrust and create unnecessary discontent among Nigerians.”
He further explained that many of the country’s airports are operating at a loss and require substantial subsidies from the Federal Government to stay operational.
This move to concession airports, according to Keyamo, is a proactive measure to ensure these critical facilities can meet international standards and remain financially viable in the long term.
“Many of our airports are currently running at a loss and need consistent federal support. The decision to concession airports began under previous administrations, and the aim is to ensure that these airports operate efficiently and are able to meet growing international standards,” Keyamo added.
Keyamo also pointed to the inclusive nature of the process, stating that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has actively involved Aviation Labour Unions in the negotiations.
He reiterated that transparency will guide every step of the process, which will ultimately be reviewed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
“The Honourable Minister of Aviation will ensure that no decisions are made without thorough consideration of the interests of the nation and the aviation sector. We are committed to a transparent process,” Keyamo emphasized, allaying any fears of mismanagement or lack of oversight.
The release concluded with a stern rebuke of the unfounded reports, which Keyamo believed were being spread by individuals with vested interests in disrupting the process.
He reassured the public that the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the country’s aviation infrastructure remains steadfast and that the ultimate goal is to strengthen the sector for the benefit of all Nigerians.
