Inadequate airport infrastructure hinders growth of Nigerian airlines – Air Peace Chairman

Air Peace Chairman and CEO, Dr. Allen Onyema, says inadequate airport infrastructure is one of the most pressing barriers to the growth and profitability of Nigerian airlines.

Onyema noted that the absence of proper transit facilities at key airports has long hindered the country’s ability to function as a true regional hub, costing airlines both passengers and revenue.

Air Peace Chairman stated this while speaking at the 29th League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Annual Conference in Lagos on Thursday August 7, 2025.

According to him, airlines operating in West and Central Africa lose a competitive edge when connecting passengers must clear immigration, undergo customs checks, and recheck their baggage simply to transit through Nigeria, a process that often drives them to other African airports.

“The lack of seamless connectivity has particularly affected the ability of domestic carriers to integrate regional routes into global connections,” said he.

Onyema welcomed the government’s recent interventions, including the plan to rebuild the Lagos airport facilities to accommodate modern transit operations. He expressed confidence in the administration’s commitment, noting that with sustained focus, the country could, within two years, possess the infrastructure needed to compete with Africa’s leading aviation hubs.

He emphasised that such infrastructure upgrades act as a form of indirect financing for airlines by reducing operational inefficiencies, cutting avoidable costs, and creating conditions for sustainable expansion. With the right facilities in place, Nigerian carriers, he maintained, could match the success of leading African airlines within the next decade.

Onyema said Nigeria’s aviation sector is poised for a major turnaround as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development push forward with ambitious plans to address decades-old airport infrastructure challenges.

He the initiatives, once completed, will not only improve passenger experience but also unlock new revenue streams for airlines.