The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has commended the Federal Government for approving the signing of the concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, describing it as a desirable step in ongoing efforts to deploy Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to modernise critical national infrastructure, and a major boost for the South Eastern economy.
The PPP agreement, signed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on behalf of the Federal Government underscores the growing momentum of PPPs as a central pillar of infrastructure delivery under the present administration.
The transaction was undertaken in compliance with the national PPP framework that included the certification of the Business Cases, due diligence, negotiations, approval by the Federal Executive Council and vetting of the Concession Agreement by Federal Ministry of Justice, before the contract was executed, in line with the ICRC Establishment Act.
Commenting on the development, the Director-General of ICRC, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, described the signing as a strong signal of Nigeria’s readiness to deepen private sector participation in infrastructure development, noting that the transaction marks the project’s commercial close and sets the stage for full implementation in the coming phases.
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He said: “This concession will strengthen the airport’s role as a vital gateway for the Southeast States by enhancing connectivity and providing essential links to domestic and international destinations—supporting tourism, trade and broader economic growth across the region.”
The infrastructure projects management expert noted that the concession demonstrated the government’s commitment to unlocking private capital, improving service delivery, and repositioning strategic national assets for long-term sustainability in line with global best practice.
The ICRC boss said that the Enugu Airport concession aligned with the commission’s ongoing efforts to streamline PPP processes, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and accelerate project delivery, with far-reaching implications for economic expansion across all sectors and regions of the country.
The Director-General further explained that as Nigeria’s PPP regulator, the commission had been providing regulatory guidance and transaction assurance to ensure the process aligns with established PPP frameworks, safeguards value for money, and strengthens investor confidence.
Ewalefoh commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his relentless efforts and strategic commitment to positioning the state as a key economic destination, noting that such proactive leadership and sustained engagement are critical to delivering transformational infrastructure outcomes.
He urged other state governments to emulate the growing example set by subnational leaders such as the governors of Enugu, Ondo, Cross River and Lagos States, among others, who are leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to attract investment, accelerate infrastructure delivery and drive inclusive economic growth in their states.
He also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for driving reforms and advancing private sector participation in the aviation sector, as well as the FAAN and all transaction partners for reaching commercial close, reaffirming ICRC’s commitment to supporting Ministries, Departments and Agencies as implementation of the project progresses.
