BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) will bring together key players in Nigeria’s aviation industry to examine how the government can raise revenue without undermining the growth and competitiveness of the sector.
The conference, scheduled for September 10, 2026, in Lagos, is themed: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth.”
The event is expected to attract the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), government officials, regulators, airline operators, airport managers, financial institutions, investors, aviation professionals, labour unions and other stakeholders across the industry.
A statement by the conference committee said the theme was chosen against the backdrop of growing fiscal pressures on the aviation sector and concerns that excessive government revenue demands could weaken airlines and other aviation businesses.
“At a time when the Nigerian aviation sector is undergoing significant reforms and infrastructure development, stakeholders believe that achieving a sustainable industry requires a careful balance between revenue generation by government and the creation of an enabling environment for investment, business growth and consumer affordability,” the statement said.
The conference will examine the impact of multiple charges on airlines and other operators, the high cost of aviation fuel, foreign exchange access, aircraft acquisition and maintenance, airport infrastructure, regulatory effectiveness and the wider contribution of aviation to the economy.
A major focus will be finding ways for government to maximise revenue from the sector without imposing excessive costs that could weaken operators, discourage investment or push up airfares and reduce connectivity.
Participants will also explore ways to expand aviation revenue through higher passenger traffic, cargo development, tourism, airport commercialisation, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aircraft leasing and other emerging areas of the aviation value chain.
The Chairman of LAAC, Suleiman Idris, said the 30th anniversary conference was an important milestone for the association and an opportunity for the aviation media to promote constructive dialogue on issues affecting the industry.
He said the media had a responsibility not only to report developments in the sector but also to create platforms for policymakers and industry stakeholders to engage on solutions to persistent challenges.
“The aviation industry cannot grow sustainably if the operators are overburdened, just as government cannot abandon its legitimate responsibility to generate revenue. What is required is a balanced and sustainable framework that allows government to earn revenue while giving aviation businesses sufficient room to grow, invest and remain competitive,” Idris said.
The Conference Committee Chairman, Wole Shadare, said the forum would go beyond identifying problems to developing practical recommendations that could support policy formulation and implementation.
Shadare said the conference would also provide an opportunity to assess developments in Nigeria’s aviation industry over the past three decades and the role of aviation correspondents in promoting accountability, transparency and informed public debate.
LAAC said it remained committed to using its annual conference to bring policymakers, regulators, operators and other stakeholders together to discuss critical issues affecting the industry and develop solutions in the national interest.
The association expressed optimism that the 30th edition would produce recommendations capable of supporting a more competitive, financially sustainable and resilient Nigerian aviation industry.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
