Nigeria Aviation Market Becomes Fourth-Largest in Africa

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has emerged as the fourth-largest aviation market in Africa, recording over 18.8 million domestic and international passengers in 2025. This represents a year-on-year increase of 11.9 percent, according to data presented at the 2026 Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.

Scheduled airline capacity for September 2026 reached 1.19 million seats, a 37.4 percent increase from the previous year. Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos led the continent's ten largest airports in growth, seeing a 24.1 percent increase in scheduled seat capacity during the same month.

Managing Director Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku attributed the expansion to currency reforms, new aircraft leasing agreements, and growing confidence from international carriers. Despite these gains, she noted that Africa accounts for only one percent of global air traffic despite representing 18 percent of the world's population. To address structural headwinds such as funding constraints and infrastructure gaps, FAAN is prioritizing digital technology deployment, human capital development, and infrastructure rehabilitation.