The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to transforming its aviation sector through increased private investment and large-scale infrastructure renewal.
Kuku stated this while speaking as a panelist on “Shaping the Future of Air Travel: A Global Airport Perspective” during the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) World Annual General Assembly held in Toronto, Canada.
She said Nigeria’s stabilizing economy is driving growth in passenger traffic but warned that challenges such as poor intra-African air connectivity continue to hinder progress across the continent.
The FAAN chief emphasized that private capital remains crucial to bridging the sector’s infrastructure gaps, adding that government funding alone cannot sustain aviation expansion.
According to her, FAAN has already embarked on several major upgrades, including the deployment of electronic gates for contactless passenger processing and stronger enforcement of consumer protection rules through sanctions on non-compliant airlines in partnership with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Kuku also restated Nigeria’s support for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), noting that its success depends on complementary investments in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services and air cargo facilities.
She highlighted the growing number of new international routes launched by domestic carriers as a sign of Nigeria’s expanding aviation footprint and readiness for sustained sectoral growth.
“Nigeria is on the verge of major aviation growth. With the right policies, investment climate, and regional cooperation, we can reshape the continent’s air transport future,” Kuku said.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen