The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reported 18.8 million passenger movements across the country's federal airports in 2025, representing an 11.9 per cent year-on-year increase. FAAN's Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, disclosed this information, stating that Nigeria's aviation market had become the fourth-largest in Africa. This growth was attributed to an increase in both domestic and international passengers.
However, experts in the Nigerian aviation industry have questioned the significance of this figure, suggesting that it should be benchmarked against traffic at major African aviation hubs. Capt. John Ojikutu, Managing Director of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, argued that the 18.8 million passenger figure represents movements across 23 federal airports, not a single airport. Therefore, it should not be presented as evidence of the strength of Nigeria's aviation sector without broader regional comparisons.
Ojikutu emphasized that Nigeria's passenger traffic should be compared with major aviation hubs in Cairo, Johannesburg, Casablanca, and Addis Ababa to establish the country's actual position within the African aviation market. He cited O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, which has historically handled more passengers than Nigeria's federal airports combined. This comparison raises questions about the actual growth of Nigeria's aviation sector.
The former airport commandant urged FAAN to provide comparable passenger traffic figures for major African aviation hubs. Such data would give a clearer picture of Nigeria's position in the continental aviation market. Additionally, Ojikutu suggested that FAAN should assess the latest passenger figure against Nigeria's pre-pandemic traffic and earlier projections to accurately gauge growth.
Ojikutu recalled that Nigeria recorded about 18.8 million passenger movements across its airports in 2019, with a target of 20 million passengers projected for 2020. Six years later, the country has yet to reach that figure. This comparison raises questions about whether the latest figure should be regarded as a major indication of aviation growth.
According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African airlines recorded a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand in July 2026. While this indicates growth in the African aviation market, experts argue that Nigeria's performance should be evaluated within this broader context.
In conclusion, while FAAN reports significant growth in passenger movements, experts argue that a more nuanced evaluation is necessary. By benchmarking Nigeria's aviation performance against major African hubs and assessing it against pre-pandemic levels, a clearer picture of the country's aviation growth can emerge.
Key points
- Nigeria's 18.8 million passenger movements should be compared with major African aviation hubs.
- The figure represents movements across 23 federal airports, not a single airport.
- Nigeria's aviation growth should be assessed against pre-pandemic traffic and earlier projections.
