Lagos airports accounted for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s air cargo movement between 2022 and 2024, confirming the city’s overwhelming dominance of the national aviation logistics system despite fluctuating cargo volumes across the period.
Data covering Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu shows that while Nigeria’s air cargo movement experienced declines and recoveries, Lagos remained the anchor of import handling and increasingly the engine of export growth. This dominance has persisted even as policymakers and industry stakeholders push for a more organised and decentralised cargo framework.
Air Cargo Movement in 2022 Sets a High Benchmark
In 2022, Nigeria recorded a total air cargo movement of 141,234,645kg, making it the strongest year across the three under review. Imports accounted for 112,304,549.41kg, while exports stood at 28,930,095.59kg, reflecting the country’s long-standing dependence on inbound cargo flows.
Lagos alone processed 115,080,958.76kg, representing well over 80 per cent of national air cargo movement. Imports through Lagos reached 89,485,156.76kg, while exports stood at 25,595,813kg, highlighting its dual role as Nigeria’s primary import gateway and leading export exit point.
Meanwhile, Port Harcourt handled 10,171,225.63kg, while Kano processed 10,014,384.14kg. However, even when combined, both airports accounted for less than one-fifth of Lagos’ total throughput, underlining the scale of imbalance within Nigeria’s air cargo movement structure.
2023 Sees Decline but Lagos Retains Grip
In 2023, total air cargo movement declined to 135,119,438kg, representing a reduction of over six million kilograms compared to 2022. Imports dropped to 106,318,233kg, while exports slipped marginally to 28,801,207kg, reflecting higher operating costs, constrained freighter availability and persistent export bottlenecks.
Despite the national decline, Lagos continued to dominate Nigeria’s air cargo movement, handling 113,486,370kg during the year. This again placed Lagos comfortably above the 80 per cent threshold, reinforcing its centrality even in weaker market conditions.
Kano emerged clearly as the second-largest cargo airport with 11,132,948kg, supported largely by inbound volumes. Abuja followed with 6,818,158kg, while Port Harcourt and Enugu remained marginal contributors. The figures highlighted the limited success of efforts to redistribute air cargo movement away from Lagos during the year.
Export-Led Recovery Shapes 2024 Performance
Nigeria’s air cargo movement rebounded in 2024, rising sharply to 159,397,623kg, exceeding 2023 levels though still falling short of the 2022 peak. However, the recovery was defined less by volume and more by a decisive shift in cargo composition.
Imports increased modestly to 107,709,876kg, but exports surged to 42,687,747kg, marking the strongest export performance across the three-year period. This shift signals growing momentum behind Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda and improved coordination within the air freight chain.
Lagos again led national air cargo movement with 116,716,884kg, but the balance changed significantly. Imports fell to 78,492,669kg, while exports rose sharply to 38,224,215kg, confirming Lagos’ evolution from an import-heavy hub into a more export-driven cargo gateway.
This transition aligns with ongoing reforms and infrastructure improvements coordinated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, alongside private cargo handlers and airline operators focused on export facilitation.
Kano and Abuja Reveal Diverging Export Outcomes
In 2024, Kano and Abuja recorded almost identical total air cargo movement figures, with 14,167,699kg and 14,078,950kg respectively. However, their export performances diverged sharply, revealing important structural differences.
Abuja recorded 2,819,665kg in exports, more than double Kano’s 1,157,539kg. This suggests stronger outbound coordination, better market access and higher-value shipments moving through the capital, despite Kano’s agricultural advantage.
While Kano remains strategically positioned for northern produce, its lower export contribution points to ongoing challenges around cold-chain infrastructure, aggregation systems and direct freighter connectivity.
Structural Reality of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Movement
Across the three years, Lagos consistently handled more air cargo movement than all other airports combined. This reality reinforces its undisputed position as Nigeria’s primary aviation logistics hub but also exposes systemic vulnerabilities.
Although the 2024 export surge suggests progress, Nigeria’s air cargo movement remains highly centralised. Without sustained investment in regional cargo terminals, cold storage facilities and scheduled freighter services, Lagos’ dominance will continue to define both the strengths and limitations of the system.
As Nigeria deepens its renewed interest in organising air cargo, the data sends a clear signal. National air cargo movement strategy must first address Lagos’ 80 per cent dominance or risks remaining aspirational rather than transformational.
