BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria’s aviation sector is accelerating into a leadership position in Africa, with Lagos airport posting the continent’s fastest traffic growth and Abuja emerging as the next rallying point for industry collaboration.
Speaking at the close of the ACI Africa Regional Conference in Luanda, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, declared that the country’s recent performance signals a broader shift in Africa’s aviation landscape.
“The future of African aviation will depend not only on infrastructure, but also on partnership, innovation, resilience, and the courage to think long term,” she said, addressing delegates gathered under the theme “Stronger Airports, Stronger Africa.”
Fresh data unveiled at the conference showed that Murtala Muhammed International Airport recorded an 11.8 per cent rise in air traffic movements in 2025, the strongest growth among Africa’s top airports.
The Lagos hub also delivered a standout cargo performance, with volumes jumping 34.4 per cent, the highest increase within the continent’s top 10, reinforcing its growing status as a logistics gateway.
“These are not just statistics. They reflect the growing strategic importance of Nigeria as a key aviation, logistics, and commercial hub on the continent”, Kuku said.
Nigeria’s momentum extends beyond Lagos. Both Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport ranked among Africa’s top 10 for domestic passenger traffic, underlining the depth of the country’s aviation market.
According to figures from the Official Airline Guide, Nigeria is now Africa’s second-largest domestic aviation market, with over 10.5 million passengers and annual growth of about 10 per cent.
The data points to rising travel demand and a strengthening domestic network, even as airlines navigate cost pressures and infrastructure gaps.
Kuku emphasised that airports are evolving into economic engines, linking markets, boosting tourism, and supporting job creation across the continent.
“They are strategic assets driving trade, tourism, employment, and economic integration,” she said, calling for deeper regional cooperation and smarter investments to sustain growth.
She also acknowledged the role of the Angolan hosts and praised Sociedade Gestora de Aeroportos for helping deliver the conference.
In a forward-looking move, Kuku invited stakeholders to Abuja for the next ACI Africa conference scheduled for September 19–25, 2026, themed “Next Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.”
“Hosting this next conference is both an honour and a responsibility.
“We look forward to receiving you with the hospitality, energy, and spirit for which Nigeria is proudly known”, she said.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
