₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, to the concessionaires, Aero Alliance Limited, under a public-private partnership arrangement.

Following the execution of the handover certificates, assets register, and other relevant documentation, Aero Alliance will now undertake the financing, rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and management of the airport, ensuring that it meets and sustains internationally recognised standards of safety, efficiency, and passenger experience.

This was even as Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State described the successful concession of the airport as a major breakthrough and opener of new economic opportunities for the South East, while Aero Alliance vowed to transform AIIA into one of Africa’s leading regional aviation, logistics, and commercial hubs.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the international terminal of AIIA, Enugu, on Thursday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, extolled President Bola Tinubu’s and Mbah’s roles in the realisation of the long-stalled concession plan.

“For 20 years, various governments have tried to concession some of our airports because of the belief that the private sector would run them more professionally and in a more commercially driven way.

“During the time of the previous administration when almost all the airports were advertised for concession, all the bidders avoided Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. There was not one bidder for Enugu and Port Harcourt. Everybody was rushing Lagos, Kano, and Abuja because many people want food that is ready.

“However, under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and under the visionary leadership of people like Dr. Peter Mbah, the reverse is the case.

“Guess what? We have no bidder presently for Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. But Enugu and Port Harcourt are gone.

“Dr. Mbah went straight to Mr. President a few weeks after his inauguration and said, ‘This is my plan for the airport.’ The President minuted and said that we should give him all the assistance he needs to turn Enugu into an aviation and investment hub.

“Mbah started with Enugu Air, and now he has brought in capital, brought in investors for the airport.

“So, I just want to say that Dr. Peter Mbah came with a plan for Enugu. He did not come and begin to assess the situation. He is a governor who came into office with a plan. And today, we are glad that we have found in him the perfect partnership we need between the federal and the state governments,” Keyamo said.

On what is expected of Aero Alliance, he said, “We expect Aero Alliance Limited to discharge its responsibilities with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, operational excellence, and commitment to safety.”

He also allayed fears over job losses, noting that the terms of agreement reached by Aero Alliance were such that they would create new jobs rather than trigger job losses.

In his remark, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Ewalefor, thanked President Tinubu for making the concession happen, describing it as historic and special for Nigeria.

He commended Mbah’s commitment to building infrastructure, extolling his international credibility and tenacity.

“That we are here today is because of the reputation of the governor. His reputation attracted the capital. Governor Peter Mbah is a miraculous governor. He has been coming to Abuja all the time for this. You can see when someone is prepared. You can see that he is very strategic and methodical in what he is doing.

“The Enugu Air and an agreement being signed from Guangzhou to Enugu are enough traffic to create viability,” Ewelefoh noted.

Meanwhile, Governor Mbah lauded the Tinubu Administration for the successful concession, saying that it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the journey to unlock the immense economic potential of the South East region.

“It opens a new chapter of economic possibilities because businesses across our region have for long grappled with logistics constraints that increased costs, lengthened delivery timelines, and limited competitiveness.

“We hope that future generations will look back to this day as the moment when Akanu Ibiam International Airport began its transformation into a truly world-class gateway serving the South East, connecting Nigeria to the world and opening new pathways to prosperity for millions of our people.

“So, today is a dream come true as we herald the promise of a South East that will be more connected, more competitive, more prosperous, and more visible on the global stage,” he emphasised.

While appreciating the Aero Alliance consortium for believing in the promise and potential of the Enugu airport, he urged undecided investors to come and invest in Enugu State.

The Managing Director of Aero Alliance, Saleem Hussain, assured that the consortium would put its over three decades’ experience in the aviation sector to work, focusing on connectivity, cargo and logistics, passenger experience, commercial development, and technology and operational excellence to transform AIIA into one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs.

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire; Commissioner for Transport, Enugu State, Dr. Obi Ozor; and the Regional General Manager, FAAN, Hillary Umunna, all committed to making the concession work for the socioeconomic benefits of the region and the nation as a whole.

Kingray10:
This is good development for the east, especially that direct flight ✈️ to China. Nice one from the govt.

Tabithatim:
...Says Enugu-Guangzhou cargo flights to commence in a few months

...Mbah: Concession opens new economic opportunities to S’East

...Aero Alliance: We’ll transform AIIA into Africa’s leading aviation hub

jamesibor:
Aug 24, 2013*

Thanks to FRESH AIR, the much anticipated commercial international flight has happened.

God bless GEJ!
God bless Nigeria!!

Alphafarms:
After next year's elections, they will say they found drugs in the airport, and close the airport back to square one. Go tell children this story, not we that know how Nigeria treats the Igbos. My peace I give to you

greatiyk4u:
Why should South East international Airport be handed over to private individuals while Fg handles those in other regions?

Aren't all animals equal again?

Gov Mbah is always looking for avenue for his people to pay more bills by fire by force

His projects has none completed yet

Water supply....... uncompleted
Electricity............mere Promise
Rail transport.......mere Promise
Smart school......... uncompleted
Ultra modern parks....in a shambles and under used
Security..............not effective
Heath centres......... uncompleted
ICC and specialist hospital.... uncompleted
OPI -Nsukka dual carriage..... uncompleted
Completed road maintenance... substandard
Taxation.......... very harsh

rofanx13:
Mbah is doing well. We appreciate how he has turn around the state in just 3 yrs

naijacann:
Yes, Mbah is doing so well. The only reason why you don't hear his name on the lips of every Igbo man the way they do with Otti is that he committed that very first sin of not winning the election that brought him into power. A typical Igbo man likes equity, justice, fair play and clean hands. Otti won his elections clear and clean. Enugu's election was clearly won by Labour Party's Edeoga, but the incumbent PDP Gov severely rigged it for Mbah. Even Prof Iweh, the returning officer that declared the result made it clear that the results he was about to read did not reflect the wishes of the voters but was handed to him to read anyways. This is a bitter pill for an Igbo man to swallow. Same situation exists for Hope Uzodinma who is also doing well. Unfortunately, he did not came to office with clean hands. 4th position became first position. Had this been in some other parts of the country, they wouldn't care how you came into office. Igbo man behaves differently. Having said that, Mbah is doing well and must be praised.

Alphafarms:
After next year's elections, they will say they found drugs in the airport, and close the airport back to square one. Go tell children this story, not we that know how Nigeria treats the Igbos. My peace I give to you

Alphafarms:
After next year's elections, they will say they found drugs in the airport, and close the airport back to square one. Go tell children this story, not we that know how Nigeria treats the Igbos. My peace I give to you

Alphafarms:
After next year's elections, they will say they found drugs in the airport, and close the airport back to square one. Go tell children this story, not we that know how Nigeria treats the Igbos. My peace I give to you

naijacann:
Yes, Mbah is doing so well. The only reason why you don't hear his name on the lips of every Igbo man the way they do with Otti is that he committed that very first sin of not winning the election that brought him into power. A typical Igbo man likes equity, justice, fair play and clean hands. Otti won his elections clear and clean. Enugu's election was clearly won by Labour Party's Edeoga, but the incumbent PDP Gov severely rigged it for Mbah. Even Prof Iweh, the returning officer that declared the result made it clear that the results he was about to read did not reflect the wishes of the voters but was handed to him to read anyways. This is a bitter pill for an Igbo man to swallow. Same situation exists for Hope Uzodinma who is also doing well. Unfortunately, he did not came to office with clean hands. 4th position became first position. Had this been in some other parts of the country, they wouldn't care how you came into office. Igbo man behaves differently. Having said that, Mbah is doing well and must be praised.

Vision101:
This is one of the benefits of working harmoniously with the center . Another win and innovation for PBAT and Governor Mba. When people come to office knowing what to do it shows.

We don't want those that told us that they will first go round the country before knowing what to do. We don't want them to save our money in their banks earning interest and leave total infrastructure decay.

They told us that infrastructure doesn't grow economy. Will this not grow Enugu state and South East economy?

NwaAdazzi:
So Enough first soludo for this milestone.
Chai

InvertedHammer:
/
It is by far better than Enugu.

500 gallons of water go for N20k. Multiply by 4 in a month, that's N80k. By extrapolation, that's N960k in a year on water alone. Why? Because the governor believes that clean and accessible water is the least of his worries. Yet they prance around like Enugu is Abuja even though the red muddy soil will have residents looking like they went tomb-raiding at night.

But then, considering where it was before Peter Mba, one can understand the accolades being that he moved the town from 16th Century to 17th Century but not anywhere near 20th Century. 21st Century is a stretch. EEDC? The worst of all.

/

fergie001:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5v-F81hNTs

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources in Lagos State, Mahmood Adegbite, has said that people drilling borehole in the Lekki axis of the state is probably drinking ‘’shit water.”

While speaking at a stakeholders meeting in the state recently, Adegbite noted that contaminated boreholes in Lekki pose health risk and added that treatment of waste water would eradicate any form of disease that may arise from it.

He said, “On waste water treatment, I will say that everyone digging borehole within the Lekki axis is probably drinking what I will call ‘shit water.’

https://punchng.com/video-everyone-digging-borehole-in-lekki-is-probably-drinking-shit-water-lagos-govt/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMABDJjbGNrAwAEK2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEewOd7728C0FSKQJNWar4yKRxNpNKt1owSlw47y57FKAux2QxvQL24Iu18rtw_aem_3kB5Sd2GjpdqjN6zFuIs7w

ejieddy:
Festus Keyamo is competent... I must confess.

Racoon:
Festus Keyamo Defends Tinubu From Drug Trafficking, Says Tinubu Mistakenly Shared Flats With Drug Lords

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, has distanced the All Progressive Congress presidential candidata, Bola Tinubu, from being a drug baron who was involved in the traffic of narcotics in the United States.

Keyamo, who also doubles as APC Presidential Campaign spokesperson, noted that the former governor of Lagos State only shared a block of flat with drug barons about 30 years ago in the US.

His reaction is coming following documents of a Chicago District Court indicting and convicting Tinubu of drug dealings and money laundering in 1993.

The document which emerged online two days ago, described APC standard-bearer as a drug baron, adding that Tinubu entered a plea bargain, leading to the forfeiture of his assets to US authorities in 1993

It was also pointed out that Tinubu forfeited the sum of $460, 000 dollars in his bank account at First Heritage Bank to the US government.

Speaking on Wednesday on Channels TV, Mr Keyamo dismissed such claims, insisting that Tinubu was linked to drug peddlers who were his neighbours.

He said: “What happened was that Tinubu went to open an account. The address which he used in opening the account was the address used by these people. I think some blocks of flats. Maybe, he was happy to be in that block of flats too.

“So, they now link it that the other people they were investigating for narcotics are in the same address used by Asiwaju to open that account.’’

https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/?.
 
U.S. court judgement indicts Tinubu for drug trafficking

https://www.google.com/amp/s/businessday.ng/amp/news/article/u-s-court-judgement-indicts-tinubu-for-drug-trafficking/

US Court Releases Documents Linking Tinubu to Largescale Drug Peddling


https://fij.ng/article/us-court-releases-documents-linking-tinubu-to-largescale-drug-peddling/

swaggerjack:
Reno Omokri: I Challenge Tinubu To Prove If He Was Not A Drug Lord In Chicago


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DLrnL6rQ6M?si=uMMUVFfetODTr4Fw

greatiyk4u:
Why should South East international Airport be handed over to private individuals while Fg handles those in other regions?

Aren't all animals equal again?

Gov Mbah is always looking for avenue for his people to pay more bills by fire by force

His projects has none completed yet

Water supply....... uncompleted
Electricity............mere Promise
Rail transport.......mere Promise
Smart school......... uncompleted
Ultra modern parks....in a shambles and under used
Security..............not effective
Heath centres......... uncompleted
ICC and specialist hospital.... uncompleted
OPI -Nsukka dual carriage..... uncompleted
Completed road maintenance... substandard
Taxation.......... very harsh

anonimi:
I must confess that he is competent just as Stella Oduah was with the same portfolio.

The only difference is that Stella did not have to defend a drug dealer with balablu, bulaba town hall incoherent stories like Keyamo did below.


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Alphafarms:
After next year's elections, they will say they found drugs in the airport, and close the airport back to square one. Go tell children this story, not we that know how Nigeria treats the Igbos. My peace I give to you