Nigeria’s aviation sector is facing a fresh crisis as the three leading labor unions: ATSSSAN, NUATE, and ANAP officially rejected the federal government’s concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu. Following an emergency meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, union leaders finalized a formal letter to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, communicating their total rejection of the deal.
The unions allege that the agreement with the concessionaire, Aero Alliance, was shrouded in secrecy and bypassed the legally recognized secretariats of the unions. Despite the Minister’s assurances that workers will remain federal employees, the unions argue that the lack of transparency regarding the “tenure” of the concession, rumored by some to be as long as 80 years, poses a terminal risk to job security and the financial health of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The conflict centers on a breakdown of trust between labor and the Ministry. While Minister Keyamo described the signing as the conclusion of a “painstaking and transparent process” approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2025, the unions claim they were kept in the dark during the final negotiations.
NUATE President Ben Nnabue and other leaders noted that while they are not opposed to the concept of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), they reject “selective concessions” that hand over profitable assets like Enugu without addressing the massive pension liabilities and the “cross-subsidy” model where larger airports fund smaller, non-viable ones.
Industry experts warn that this brewing crisis could lead to industrial action if the government does not return to the negotiating table. The unions have questioned the legality of the Enugu Airport Concession Committee, claiming that some representatives were not authorized to sign off on behalf of the workers.
This mirrors a similar standoff in late 2025 over the Port Harcourt airport, suggesting a systemic friction in the government’s aviation reform agenda. As of Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the unions are awaiting a formal response to their letter, with the threat of “operational disruptions” looming over the nation’s air travel network.
, Enugu. Following an emergency meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, union leaders finalized a formal letter to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, communicating their total rejection of the deal.){kind=link}