As Nigeria’s aviation industry taxied into 2026, it shut the hangar doors on a remarkable 2025, a year of pressure, progress and pivotal decisions that tested the sector, stretched its limits and, in many ways, made it stronger.
In this retrospect, our aviation correspondent Nosa Aituamen takes a clear-eyed look at where the industry has been, the milestones it crossed, the turbulence it faced, and what key stakeholders expect as the new year unfolds.
Two-thousand and twenty-five will be remembered as a landmark year for Nigerian aviation.
The Federal Government deepened its push to open up the skies, signing new Bilateral Air Service Agreements with Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, amending existing BASAs with the United Arab Emirates, and securing the much-talked-about Heathrow access for Air Peace.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described these moves as bold steps to attract investment, expand connectivity and position Nigeria as a serious aviation hub.
“We thank Mr. President for his vision, his focus and his mandate. The clear mandate that he gave us is that businesses thrive and survive”.
On the domestic front, infrastructure took centre stage. President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the Maiduguri International Airport, commercial flights returned to Minna Airport, and Enugu Air took off in partnership with Xejet, a development that signalled renewed confidence in state-driven aviation initiatives.
Across the country, several airports received long-overdue upgrades.
At the nation’s busiest gateway, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Terminal One finally entered a long-awaited phase of stripping and modernisation.
FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, says the goal is simple: safer, more efficient terminals that meet international standards and improve passenger experience.
“We are really focusing on a lot expansion work across all airports, same thing goes if you go into the south east, you would see similar projects and similar progress”.
From the regulator’s desk, the story of safety stood out. According to the Director of Airworthiness, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Godwin Balang, the industry recorded an impressive safety performance in 2025.
While incidents were reported, there were no fatal accidents a record many describe as reassuring in a challenging operating environment.
Mr. Balang said, “In 2024 the average accident rate in the world was put at about one point, one three per one million flights. In Nigeria, lets look at the safety records, how many people has aviation killed in Nigeria, it is about a thousand five hundred for the 100 years of aviation in Nigeria”.
Towering above all these developments was the celebration of 100 years of civil aviation in Nigeria, capped by the Nigeria Airshow. It was more than a ceremony; it was a statement, placing Nigeria firmly on the global aviation map and reminding the world of its long aviation history and future ambitions.
But the year was not without turbulence. Rising cases of unruly passenger behaviour and complaints over the maltreatment of Nigerian travellers by some foreign airlines forced the authorities to act.
New rules were announced, sanctions imposed, and fines issued, as government signalled it would no longer tolerate abuse of Nigerian passengers says, Mr. Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA.
“Nigerians deserve world class service because Nigerian passengers pay premium airfares especially for foreign travels, we are going to do the best we can within the ambit of the regulations”.
From the airline operators, the concerns were loud and consistent. Industry leaders like George Uriesi and Captain Ado Sanusi warned that high operating costs, multiple taxes and charges continue to weigh heavily on local carriers, threatening sustainability.
“The industry has plenty fees and charges, then they say, the airlines are charging, why won’t we charge?”
“Now we have a five point agenda or agenda points, I don’t think that is enough, I believe, we should have a genuine reforms for the aviation sector to provide us for a sustainable aviation growth in the next 20-30 year, if not, we are going to have the same problem recurring again”.
Tensions rose further with the introduction of a new tax law, sparking strong resistance from operators like Dr. Allen Onyema and other industry players like Mr. Tony Ukachukwu who argue the policy could strain an already fragile sector.
“If we implement that tax reform, Nigeria airlines we go down in three months and will further push them to the precipe”.
That debate has spilled into 2026, with stakeholders making it clear they are not backing down. Instead, they say they are ready to engage, amplify their voices and push for practical, long-term solutions to the challenges facing Nigerian aviation.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen