Nigeria recorded more than 18.8 million domestic and international air passengers in 2025, making it the fourth-largest aviation market in Africa, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
FAAN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed the figure on Tuesday while delivering her welcome address at the 2026 Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
Kuku, who also serves as Vice President of ACI Africa, said the passenger figure represented an 11.9 per cent year-on-year increase.
“Our aviation market now ranks as the fourth-largest in Africa, with over 18.8m domestic and international passengers recorded in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.9 per cent,” she said.
The conference, themed “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience,” brought together aviation leaders, airport executives, regulators, financiers, technology providers and other industry stakeholders from Africa and beyond.
Kuku described the theme as more than a conference focus, saying it represents a strategic challenge and call to action for the continent’s aviation industry.
“This gathering of minds, this convergence of vision, could not have come at a more consequential moment for African aviation,” she said.
“The theme before us, ‘Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience’ is not merely a conference title. It is a strategic mandate. It is a call to action. It also reflects the journey we are collectively undertaking as a continent.”
Citing recent industry data, Kuku said African airlines recorded a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand in July 2026, according to International Air Transport Association data.
She contrasted the growth with a 0.1 per cent decline in global international passenger demand during the same period.
Overall passenger demand in Africa also increased by 5.2 per cent, placing the continent behind only Latin America and the Caribbean in growth during the period, she said.
“This is not a marginal improvement. This continent is on the move,” Kuku told delegates.
She said Nigeria was contributing significantly to the expansion, with increased scheduled airline capacity and renewed interest from carriers operating in the country.
According to Kuku, Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos recorded the fastest growth in scheduled seat capacity among Africa’s 10 largest airports in September, with a 24.1 per cent increase.
Nigeria’s total scheduled airline capacity for September 2026 stood at 1.19 million seats, representing a 37.4 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Kuku attributed the growth to factors including currency reforms, new aircraft leasing arrangements and increased confidence among international airlines seeking to operate in Nigeria.
“Since the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development took office, several airlines have resumed operations in Nigeria, and more are expected soon,” she said.
“These figures are not abstract. They represent millions of Africans connecting with family, doing business, accessing healthcare, and exploring opportunities.
“They represent livelihoods. They represent economic growth. They represent the future we are building together.”
Despite the growth, Kuku cautioned that rising passenger numbers should not be interpreted as evidence that Africa’s aviation challenges have been resolved.
She noted that Africa still accounts for only about one per cent of global air traffic despite having approximately 18 per cent of the world’s population.
She identified funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, high operating costs, fragmented connectivity and the challenge of maintaining affordable airport charges while providing world-class facilities as persistent issues facing the industry.
“In Nigeria alone, with a population exceeding 220m, we record approximately 19.5m passengers annually across 28 airports,” she said.
“The potential is vast, but the gap between where we are and where we could be remains substantial. This is not a reason for despair, it is a reason for deliberate, strategic action.”
Kuku said FAAN had focused on improving safety, expanding airport capacity and modernising critical infrastructure.
Projects highlighted included the rehabilitation of a major runway at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, terminal upgrades and improvements to airfield lighting, with the work carried out while airport operations continued.
“We have focused on the fundamentals: safe runways, functional terminals, and reliable systems,” she said.
FAAN is also deploying digital technologies, including faster check-in systems, automated e-passport gates, enhanced security systems and passenger-data analytics.
On quality management, Kuku disclosed that FAAN achieved ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications in January 2026, describing the certifications as evidence of the authority’s commitment to quality, environmental responsibility and continuous improvement.
She also disclosed that more than 3,500 FAAN personnel had been trained and certified through International Civil Aviation Organisation and ACI programmes.
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