According to Dr. Muda Yusuf, the former Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), out of the 32 airports in Nigeria, only four are economically sustainable. These four airports include the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos (which generates approximately 50% of the country’s airport revenue), Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), and Port-Harcourt International Airport.
Dr. Yusuf made these remarks during the second annual National Transport Technology Conference and Exhibition, which focused on the viability of state-owned airports in Nigeria.
He highlighted that many state-owned airports heavily rely on subsidies from their respective state governments to maintain their operations, which raises concerns about their economic sustainability. State governments have undertaken the construction of airports in Nigeria, but some of these projects may not be financially viable.
Captain Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also emphasized that many state-owned airports in Nigeria were built without considering the air traffic in the region. This has led to financial stress on various agencies within the aviation sector, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Susan Akporiaye, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), attributed the lack of thriving state-owned airports to inadequate funding. She emphasized that airports need sufficient air traffic to generate revenue and cannot thrive when they operate only one or two flights daily.
It was also noted during the discussion that some state government-led airport projects may serve as conduits for embezzlement of public funds rather than promoting economic interests. Observers estimate that significant public funds have been expended on such projects, which can strain the aviation sector’s overall financial health.
