BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Aviation Parastatal CEOs, experts and aviation enthusiasts are expected to attend the 2025 edition of the Airport Business Summit and Expo (ABSE).
However, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, will officially declare the Confab open as Keyamo’s representative.
The summit, scheduled to take place from July 15 to 17 at the NIGAV Expo Event Centre, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, will bring together State Commissioners of Transport, heads of aviation agencies, private sector leaders, and other dignitaries to explore sustainable strategies for airport development in Nigeria.
ABSE, regarded as Nigeria’s only dedicated airport business convergence, is designed to tackle the challenges of air transport from an airport-centric perspective.
It aims to foster meaningful discussions around making Nigeria’s airports economically sustainable and creating viable returns on investment (ROI) for private capital in a sector historically dominated by government funding.
In a statement announcing the summit, ABSE Chairman, Mr. Fortune Idu, said: “This year’s summit is a collaborative effort involving the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Transport Commissioners’ Forum, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Together, we aim to create a platform that will shape the future of airport business in Nigeria.”
The theme for ABSE 2025 is “Investment Opportunities in Airport Public-Private Partnerships.” It seeks to spotlight the enormous untapped potential for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in airport infrastructure development, intermodal connectivity, and overall viability of the air transport sector.
According to Mr. Idu, “The three-day programme will offer a holistic experience — from technical training and expert panels to high-level policy discussions. It will begin with a workshop on airport development, followed by a Special Airport State Session and an Airport Managers’ Forum, forming an essential blueprint for transforming Nigeria’s aviation economy.”
The event will kick off with a Masterclass Workshop on Airport Revenue Planning, which will serve as a prelude to the main summit.
This session will provide valuable insights into revenue challenges airports currently face, help resolve existing conflicts, and identify new investment opportunities aligned with airport sustainability objectives.
The session is open to airport managers, airline operators, investors, regulatory bodies, and business stakeholders.
A key panel discussion will also focus on how airports can maintain a balance between safety, security, and seamless operations.
Speakers will address pressing issues such as encroachment by surrounding communities, vandalism, and theft — and how these affect airport safety.
The panel will also highlight how airport security agencies and regulators collaborate to ensure compliance with audit requirements while preserving secure and efficient operations.
