Nigeria's aviation market has been ranked as the fourth-largest in Africa, with a total of 18.8 million domestic and international passenger movements recorded in 2025. This disclosure was made by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, at the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Abuja. The conference, which was hosted by FAAN from 19 to 25 September, brought together airport operators, aviation regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
The growth in Nigeria's aviation market is part of a wider recovery in African air transport, but significant gaps remain between the continent's current traffic levels and its potential. According to Onabanjo-Kuku, Nigeria's growing capacity is a notable development in the sector. Recent data from aviation analytics company OAG shows that Nigerian airlines and carriers serving the country scheduled about 1.19 million departing seats in September 2026, representing a 37.4 per cent increase from 864,100 seats recorded in September 2025.
OAG's data also reveals that Lagos recorded the fastest growth among Africa's 10 largest airports, with scheduled capacity increasing by 24.1 per cent year-on-year to about 470,000 seats in September. Nigeria's domestic scheduled capacity increased by 44.8 per cent year-on-year to about 877,000 seats. Onabanjo-Kuku attributes the increase in capacity to recent developments in the aviation sector, including currency reforms, new aircraft leasing arrangements, and increased confidence among airlines.
The growth in Nigeria is occurring against the backdrop of increased passenger demand across Africa. International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures show that international passenger demand for African airlines increased by 6.4 per cent year-on-year in July 2026, above the global trend recorded during the period. Africa's overall passenger demand increased by 5.2 per cent during the period, while global international demand declined by 0.1 per cent.
Despite the growth, Africa still accounts for only about 1 per cent of global air traffic, despite being home to about 18 per cent of the world's population. In Nigeria, more than 220 million people generate about 19.5 million passenger movements annually across 28 airports. Onabanjo-Kuku notes that the potential is vast, but the gap between where the continent is and where it could be remains substantial.
FAAN has undertaken several projects aimed at improving airport infrastructure and passenger experience since 2023. These projects include runway rehabilitation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, terminal refurbishment, and airfield lighting upgrades. The authority has also established a Passenger Experience Hub, deployed automated e-passport gates, and improved check-in processes.
Onabanjo-Kuku also highlights the challenges facing African aviation, including high operating costs, infrastructure gaps, and limited access to capital. She calls for greater use of regional initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Single African Air Transport Market to support connectivity and trade. Additionally, she urges African governments and financial institutions to establish predictable and commercially sustainable frameworks for airport infrastructure investment.
Key points
- Nigeria's aviation market ranks fourth-largest in Africa with 18.8 million passenger movements in 2025.
- Nigeria's domestic scheduled capacity increased by 44.8 per cent year-on-year to about 877,000 seats in September 2026.
- Africa still accounts for only about 1 per cent of global air traffic despite being home to about 18 per cent of the world's population.
