Nigeria's Air Passenger Numbers Rise As Sector Growth Accelerates

Nigeria's aviation sector is growing faster than any other among Africa's top 10 markets, the head of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said while warning that the continent's structural challenges remain unresolved.

Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, FAAN's managing director and chief executive, said Nigeria is Africa's fourth-largest aviation market, with more than 18.8 million domestic and international passengers in 2025, up 11.9% from the previous year. She spoke at the ACI Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Citing OAG data, she said Nigeria's scheduled airline capacity for September 2026 reached 1.19 million seats, up 37.4% year on year. “This is driven by currency reforms, new aircraft leasing agreements, and growing confidence among international carriers looking to fly to Nigeria,” she said.

Lagos's Murtala Muhammed International Airport, whose oldest terminal is being rehabilitated, led the continent's top 10 airports with 24.1% growth in seat capacity. “The momentum is building,” she said.

Drawing on IATA data, she said African airlines recorded a 6.4% rise in international passenger demand in July 2026.

Overall continental demand grew 5.2%, second only to Latin America and the Caribbean. “This continent is on the move,” she said.

Onabanjo-Kuku, who is also vice president of ACI-Africa, cautioned that growth does not mean Africa's problems are solved. The continent accounts for about 1% of global air traffic despite having 18% of the world's population, she said, while load factors trail global averages and airline finances remain fragile.

She listed funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, high operating costs, fragmented connectivity, and pressure to keep airport charges low as major obstacles.

She outlined five priorities for next-generation African airports: financial sustainability, intelligent infrastructure, operational resilience, human capital and strategic partnerships. She called for stronger cooperation among governments, investors, airlines, technology providers, logistics firms, and development finance institutions.

The African Continental Free Trade Area, the Single African Air Transport Market and the continent's young, digital workforce offer a strong foundation, she said, urging governments to provide predictable, long-term frameworks for airport investment.

She concluded by saying, “The decade ahead belongs to Africa. Our passenger growth is outpacing the rest of the world. Our infrastructure is being renewed. Our institutions are strengthening. Our connectivity is expanding.”