Bold Airport Infrastructure Upgrade: 29th LAAC Fallout Tests Tinubu Plan

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Nigeria’s airport infrastructure upgrade has taken centre stage as aviation stakeholders placed renewed attention on the state of the nation’s airports.

The discussions came weeks after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration approved a major plan to modernise key facilities, starting with Lagos. Read more of FAAN’s Renovation Plans

Industry participants at the Lagos event said the plan, while welcome, must be executed with precision to meet global standards.

They cautioned that without efficient implementation, Nigeria risks losing ground to regional competitors such as Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda, which have invested heavily in hub development.

Airport Infrastructure Upgrade Key to Competitiveness

Air Peace Chairman and CEO, Dr. Allen Onyema, spoke at the 29th League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Annual Conference. He described inadequate airport infrastructure as one of the most pressing barriers to airline profitability.

He explained that the absence of proper transit facilities at major airports has long hindered Nigeria’s ability to function as a true regional hub. This situation causes carriers to lose passengers and revenue.

“Our competitors in West and Central Africa gain an edge when connecting passengers bypass Nigeria because of cumbersome processes,” Onyema said. Read more

 Challenges to Seamless Connectivity

Onyema detailed how airlines in the subregion lose competitiveness when passengers transiting through Nigeria must clear immigration, undergo customs checks, and recheck baggage before continuing their journey.

This, he said, often pushes travellers toward better-connected airports such as Kotoka International in Accra or Bole International in Addis Ababa.

The lack of seamless connectivity has also reduced domestic airlines’ capacity to integrate regional routes into global networks, weakening their ability to attract long-haul codeshare partnerships.

Lagos Airport Overhaul to Support Airlines

Onyema welcomed the government’s commitment to rebuild Lagos airport facilities for modern transit operations.

He expressed confidence in the administration’s resolve, stating that competitive facilities could be ready in two years if the plan stays on course.

To Onyema and other operators, airport infrastructure upgrade is a step forward in the right direction.

He emphasised that upgrades act as indirect financing for airlines by reducing inefficiencies, cutting operational costs, and creating conditions for sustainable expansion.

With such facilities, he maintained, Nigerian carriers could match the success of Africa’s leading airlines within the next decade.

Stakeholders Urge Accountability and Timelines

Industry experts at the conference urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to set clear timelines for each phase of the airport infrastructure upgrade.

They also called for transparent procurement processes and consistent funding to avoid abandoned projects.

Speakers noted that Nigeria’s airport infrastructure has suffered from years of underinvestment, policy inconsistency, and project delays.

LAAC Conference’s Role in Shaping Policy

The 29th LAAC conference has, over the years, evolved into a platform that shapes high-level policy direction for Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Its fallout from this year’s edition has brought renewed attention to long-delayed airport infrastructure upgrade plans.

This further underscores the urgent need for coordinated action between policymakers, regulators, and private stakeholders.