LAGOS, Nigeria (FN) — President Bola Tinubu and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo are urging international investors to seize opportunities in Nigeria’s aviation industry, describing it as “one of Africa’s most viable and under‑exploited markets.” The appeal was made at the 2025 Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference in Lagos.
Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, said Nigeria’s aviation fundamentals — a population of more than 220 million, rising travel demand, and a strategic geographic position — place the country at the center of Africa’s future growth in air transport. “There has never been a better time than now to invest in the sector,” he said.
Keyamo emphasized that Nigeria’s aviation market is not only large but also underserved. He pointed to unmet demand in cargo services, aircraft leasing, charter operations, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, areas where foreign capital could make an immediate impact.
FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku added that six airports nationwide are undergoing upgrades, including a N712 billion refurbishment of Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport. She said passenger demand has already outpaced current capacity, creating opportunities in terminal modernization, cargo infrastructure, and airport city development.
Tinubu linked Nigeria’s aviation ambitions to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a 1.7 trillion dollars market. He argued that efficient air logistics will be critical for trade expansion, and Nigeria’s location makes it a natural hub for trans‑African and intercontinental linkages.
Nigeria is pitching itself as Africa’s next aviation frontier. With ongoing airport upgrades, a new international terminal planned in Lagos, and untapped demand in cargo and MRO services, Tinubu and Keyamo are betting that global investors will see opportunity where others see risk.
Nigeria’s pitch comes as other African nations strengthen their aviation dominance. Ethiopia is building a 7.8 billion dollars Bishoftu Airport to cement Addis Ababa’s role as the continent’s leading hub, while South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg continues to serve as a gateway for global carriers.
Analysts say Nigeria’s late entry into the race for continental aviation leadership underscores both challenges and opportunities. Unlike Ethiopia’s Ethiopian Airlines, which has become Africa’s most profitable carrier, Nigeria’s domestic airlines have struggled with sustainability. However, the sheer size of Nigeria’s market offers investors a chance to build scale quickly.
Keyamo assured investors that reforms are underway to improve regulatory frameworks and infrastructure. He highlighted the planned Lekki International Airport, designed to handle 5 million passengers annually, as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to expanding capacity.
Industry experts argue that Nigeria’s aviation sector could become a cornerstone of economic diversification, reducing reliance on oil revenues. Aviation growth would drive job creation, tourism, and trade expansion, while also boosting Nigeria’s regional leadership ambitions.
For now, Tinubu and Keyamo’s message is clear: Nigeria’s aviation industry is open for business. With global capital, they believe the country can transform its airports into hubs that rival Addis Ababa and Johannesburg, turning an under‑exploited sector into a driver of national prosperity.
