At the Q1 Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) Breakfast Business Meeting in Lagos, Captain Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, painted a clear vision for a thriving Nigeria aviation hub. He emphasised that for a Nigeria aviation hub, building world-class infrastructure alone is insufficient; strong local airlines, modern maintenance and training facilities, and supportive policies are essential.
“For a successful hub, it’s not just about building a very good airport; you also need a home-based airline,” Capt. Sanusi said, citing global examples such as Emirates in Dubai, Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa, and Lufthansa at Frankfurt. These carriers form the backbone of international transit hubs, he noted, carrying passengers efficiently and boosting airport competitiveness.
Drawing on over three decades of industry experience, Capt. Sanusi explained that airlines are the primary drivers of a hub. “Strong airlines can be carriers of flights and should be helped by the government to grow,” he added, clarifying that government ownership is unnecessary. Instead, policy and regulatory support should create an enabling environment for local carriers to thrive.
According to Capt. Sanusi, a sustainable Nigeria Aviation Hub rests on three pillars:
- Strong Homegrown Airlines: Airlines must be capable, reliable, and financially stable to attract domestic and international traffic.
- Efficient Airport Infrastructure: Modern terminals, optimized baggage handling, and streamlined transit processes are critical to compete with global hubs.
- Supportive Policy and Training Ecosystem: Regulatory clarity, fee rationalisation, foreign exchange access, and state-of-the-art training facilities ensure airlines operate safely and efficiently.
Transit passenger handling remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. “Transit passenger handling and baggage transfer are extremely important,” Capt. Sanusi said. International hubs increasingly rely on transit traffic, which boosts revenue and strengthens the hub’s connectivity. Without this focus, he warned, Nigerian airports risk losing competitive advantage.
Regulatory reform is equally critical. Capt. Sanusi highlighted that complex fees and bureaucratic bottlenecks deter investment and stunt growth. “When you create many fees for aviation, they don’t grow; multiple fees actually stimulate growth,” he noted. Streamlined processes, predictable charges, and investor-friendly policies can encourage airline expansion and international partnerships.
Foreign exchange availability also remains a bottleneck for local carriers. Capt. Sanusi explained that reliable FX access ensures operational stability, facilitates aircraft acquisition and maintenance, and enables Nigerian airlines to compete in international markets.
Air navigation efficiency is another area ripe for improvement. Capt. Sanusi called for the adoption of a performance-based navigation system (PBN) to reduce operational costs and improve competitiveness. Modern traffic management technologies can help Nigerian airports operate on par with global standards, he said.
Yet, arguably the most urgent need lies in training and maintenance. Capt. Sanusi criticised Nigeria’s aviation training ecosystem for underutilisation of simulators and outdated facilities. “Nigeria is the only country that will buy a training device and keep it in the air for years,” he said. Developing modern training centres and maintenance hubs will ensure pilots, crew, and aircraft meet international safety and proficiency standards.
The Managing Director commended current leadership for a renewed focus on aviation development. “The paper you presented covered everything, from the airport to flight carriers, to making a Nigeria aviation hub,” he said, praising the integrated approach that considers airlines, infrastructure, and policy as interconnected elements.
Capt. Sanusi’s remarks offer a practical roadmap for a Nigeria aviation hub. By fostering strong local airlines, improving airport operations, implementing supportive policies, and establishing world-class training and maintenance facilities, the country can attract transit passengers, boost revenue, and increase aviation’s contribution to GDP.
“In aviation, growth is possible when these areas are addressed deliberately and systematically,” he concluded. The message was clear: a Nigeria aviation hub is achievable, but only if private-sector engagement, policy reform, and strategic infrastructure investment are pursued in tandem.
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