Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, have emphasized the need for stronger investment, improved connectivity, and greater resilience in Africa's aviation industry. Speaking at the 35th Airport Council International (ACI) Africa Annual General Assembly in Abuja, Keyamo highlighted the importance of evolving beyond traditional passenger facilities into commercially viable economic ecosystems.
The conference, themed "Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience," aims to address the challenges facing Africa's aviation industry. Keyamo stressed that growth in passenger traffic must be matched by improvements in safety, efficiency, technology, commercial sustainability, and passenger experience. He noted that ACI Africa represents 64 members in 51 countries and about 250 airports, making it an important platform for collaboration and collective action.
Keyamo outlined the characteristics of next-generation airports, including safety, efficiency, financial sustainability, technological enablement, environmental responsibility, and adaptability to disruption. He cited Nigeria's aviation reforms, which have yielded a 91.45 percent Effective Implementation score following the 2026 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission. However, he emphasized that this score should be regarded as a new baseline rather than an endpoint.
Kuku presented figures indicating strong growth in Africa's aviation market. African airlines recorded a 6.4 percent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand in July 2026, while capacity grew by 9.0 percent. The international passenger load factor for African airlines was 74.1 percent, compared with the global figure of 85.2 percent. Nigeria's aviation market is now the fourth-largest in Africa, with over 18.8 million domestic and international passengers in 2025.
Kuku highlighted the growth of Nigeria's aviation market, with scheduled airline capacity reaching 1.19 million seats in September 2026, representing a 37.4 percent increase over the same period last year. However, she cautioned that Africa still accounts for only about 1 percent of global air traffic, despite having approximately 18 percent of the world's population.
Keyamo and Kuku's calls for stronger investment and improved connectivity come as Africa's aviation industry enters a new phase of growth. The rehabilitation and expansion of Terminal 1 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, is underway, with airports serving as the "front door" of a country. The duo emphasized the need for airports to be designed with resilience in mind, considering the vulnerabilities of the aviation industry to various disruptions.
The ACI Africa conference provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Africa's aviation industry. With Africa's air travel demand rising, the industry must prioritize investment, connectivity, and resilience to ensure sustainable growth. Keyamo and Kuku's addresses highlighted the need for a collaborative approach to drive performance and resilience in Africa's aviation sector.
Key points
- Nigeria's aviation market is now the fourth-largest in Africa, with over 18.8 million domestic and international passengers in 2025.
- African airlines recorded a 6.4 percent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand in July 2026.
- Nigeria's aviation reforms have yielded a 91.45 percent Effective Implementation score following the 2026 ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission.
