Nigeria recorded more than 18.8 million domestic and international air passengers in 2025, making it the fourth-largest aviation market in Africa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed the figure on Tuesday while delivering her welcome address at the Airports Council International Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Abuja.
Kuku, who also serves as Vice President of ACI Africa, said the 2025 passenger figure represented an 11.9 per cent year-on-year increase and reflected the continued expansion of Nigeria’s aviation market.
The conference, themed “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience,” brought together airport executives, aviation regulators, industry experts, financiers, technology providers and other stakeholders from across Africa.
Kuku said the growth in Nigeria’s passenger traffic was occurring alongside broader expansion in African aviation, with the continent recording stronger passenger demand despite persistent infrastructure and operational challenges.
She cited International Air Transport Association data showing that international passenger demand for African airlines increased by 6.4 per cent year-on-year in July 2026. Overall passenger demand in Africa also grew by 5.2 per cent during the period, according to the figures she presented.
The FAAN chief said Nigeria was contributing significantly to the continent’s aviation growth, pointing to increased airline capacity and renewed interest from international carriers operating in the Nigerian market.
She disclosed that Nigeria’s scheduled airline capacity for September 2026 stood at about 1.19 million seats, representing a 37.4 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos also recorded a 24.1 per cent increase in scheduled seat capacity in September, which Kuku described as the fastest growth among Africa’s 10 largest airports.
The increase in passenger traffic follows data from FAAN showing that Nigeria’s domestic aviation market also expanded in 2025. Domestic passenger traffic rose from approximately 12.54 million in 2024 to 13.09 million in 2025, while international passenger traffic increased from about 4.40 million to 4.85 million during the same period.
Kuku attributed the recent expansion partly to currency reforms, new aircraft leasing arrangements and increased confidence among airlines seeking to operate in Nigeria.
She said several airlines had resumed operations in the country since the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development assumed office, with more carriers expected to enter or expand their operations.
However, the FAAN managing director cautioned that rising passenger numbers should not be interpreted as meaning that Africa’s aviation problems had been resolved.
She noted that Africa still accounts for only about one per cent of global air traffic despite having roughly 18 per cent of the world’s population.
Among the challenges she identified were inadequate funding, infrastructure deficits, high operating costs, fragmented connectivity and the difficulty of maintaining affordable airport charges while providing modern facilities.
Kuku said the figures represented more than passenger movements, arguing that air travel supported family connections, business, healthcare access, tourism and economic activity.
Nigeria’s aviation growth also comes amid efforts by FAAN to improve airport infrastructure and operational standards. The agency’s mandate includes the development and management of airport facilities for the safe, secure and efficient movement of passengers and goods.
The FAAN chief said the focus should therefore be on ensuring that the expansion in passenger traffic is matched by improvements in airport infrastructure, service delivery, connectivity and resilience.
She urged African aviation stakeholders to use the conference to develop practical strategies capable of supporting the continent’s growing aviation demand while addressing the structural challenges limiting the industry’s potential.
With Nigeria now recording millions of annual passenger movements and ranking fourth in Africa by the measure cited by FAAN, the figures underline the country’s significant position within the continent’s aviation industry.
