‘Nigeria’s aviation industry under-exploited’ — Tinubu asks investors to explore market opportunities

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s aviation industryremains under-exploited, despite ready market opportunities across cargo,maintenance, leasing, and aviation real estate subsectors. Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Federal Airports Authority ofNigeria (FAAN) national aviation conference (FNAC) in Lagos, Tinubu said thecountry’s aviation sector is “one of the most viable” in Africa. The president, represented by George Akume, secretary to thegovernment of the federation, said the administration is positioning aviationas a critical engine for national growth, job creation, and globalcompetitiveness. He said the federal government has made steady progressunder the ‘renewed hope’ agenda with reforms targeted at infrastructure, andregulatory oversight. Tinubu listed major interventions achieved in two years,including the commissioning of new international terminals in Lagos and PortHarcourt, and the rehabilitation works in Abuja, Enugu, and Kano. Others are improved collaboration between the NCAA andglobal aviation bodies, expansion of cargo and MRO facilities in Lagos andKano, and the development of a transparent framework for a national carrier. “These interventions are building blocks for a modernaviation ecosystem anchored on efficiency, private sector investment, safety,and international competitiveness,” the president said. “Government cannot shoulder these responsibilities alone butshall continue to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.” Tinubu said the goal of the current administration is tobuild on past efforts to make Nigeria a preferred destination for aviationinvestment. He said the government is already making progress by easingregulatory processes, improving transparency, and providing incentives forairport infrastructure, aircraft leasing, maintenance, and training. “We are also working on fiscal reforms that will ensureclarity and lend its hand to overall investment and policy coherence,” headded. “Let me at this point reassure all our partners, potentialand foreign investors that there has never been a time than now, to invest. “Opportunities abound because Nigeria’s aviation industryremains one of the most viable and under-exploited markets in Africa forseveral reasons such as, over 220 million people and the largest domesticaviation market on the continent. “Strategic geographic location, ideal for trans-African andintercontinental linkages, growing middle class and travel demand which isexpected to double within a decade, a $1.7 trillion regional market, driven byAfCFTA, that depends heavily on efficient air logistics, and Massive unmetdemand in cargo, MRO, leasing, charter services, and aviation-linked realestate. “These are not abstract possibilities, they are real marketopportunities ready for investors.” Tinubu said the emerging frontiers expected to define thenext phase of growth are dedicated cargo and agro-export corridors, expansionof MRO capacity to curb capital flight, development of smart and green airportswith digital passenger systems, and upgraded aviation training through adecentralised NCAT and new technical partnerships. TINUBU COMMITS TO IMPLEMENTING POLICY REFORMS FOR AIRPORTOPERATIONS He said the administration remains committed to safety,efficiency and sustainability, and will continue to implement policy reformsand renewable-energy solutions for airport operations. The president commended Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation,and the leadership of FAAN and other agencies for “purposeful” work inimproving service delivery in the sector. “The future of Nigerian aviation is bright and full ofpromise. Together (government, private sector, and international partners), wecan shall build a safer, stronger, and more globally connected industry,” hesaid. Declaring the conference open, Tinubu urged stakeholders tochart a path that will keep Nigeria’s aviation sector “flying higher” withoutcompromising safety and standards.

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