Obviously the problems with aviation in Nigeria are manifold.However the primary problems facing aviation in Nigeria are a combination of significant infrastructural deficits, a challenging economic and financial environment, and persistent regulatory and operational inefficiencies.
Infrastructural Deficits
Outdated Airport Facilities: Many airports have inadequate and poorly maintained facilities, which leads to congestion, operational inefficiencies, and a poor passenger experience.
Aged Air Traffic Management (ATM) Systems: Outdated air traffic control (ATC) systems, limited radar coverage, and a lack of modern navigation aids result in frequent delays and safety concerns.
Limited Operating Hours: Many airports are "sunset airports," meaning they lack the airfield lighting for night operations (after 6:00 pm), forcing airlines to limit aircraft utilization to daylight hours and contributing to flight delays across the network.
Lack of MRO Facilities: Nigeria lacks viable Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, forcing airlines to ferry aircraft abroad for major maintenance, which results in significant capital flight and increased aircraft downtime.
Economic & Financial Challenges
Foreign Exchange Volatility and Scarcity: The volatile Naira and difficulty in accessing foreign exchange pose major problems, as most substantial costs in aviation (aircraft leasing, maintenance, spare parts, and fuel) are paid in U.S. dollars.
High Operational Costs: Nigerian airlines face exorbitant operating costs, including high insurance premiums (due to the perception of Nigeria as a high-risk environment) and multiple government taxes and charges, which hamper profitability.
High Cost and Scarcity of Aviation Fuel (Jet A1): Airlines struggle with the rising and volatile price of aviation fuel, compounded by a lack of local refining capacity and infrastructure for fuel hedging.
Access to Finance: Domestic airlines find it difficult to secure loans at competitive interest rates (often facing rates as high as 26-35%), making fleet renewal and expansion challenging.
Trapped Funds: The issue of foreign airlines being unable to repatriate their ticket sales revenue in foreign currency has been a recurring problem, at times reaching $850 million, damaging the country's international image and causing some international carriers to reduce capacity or temporarily withdraw services.
Regulatory & Operational Inefficiencies
Inconsistent Regulatory Enforcement: While a strong regulatory framework exists on paper (aligned with ICAO standards), inconsistent enforcement and political interference in regulatory agencies like the NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority) create an unpredictable business environment.
Manpower Shortages: There are significant gaps in human resources and a shortage of skilled personnel, including pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and air traffic controllers, due to inadequate training and development pipelines.
Frequent Delays and Cancellations: A combination of the above factors results in a high incidence of flight delays and cancellations, leading to low passenger confidence and a poor reputation for reliability among domestic carriers.
Policy Inconsistency: Sudden changes in government policies and a lack of a clear, long-term aviation master plan create uncertainty for investors and operators.
Airports and Structures
The number of airports and pilots in Nigeria can be broken down as follows:
Airports
Nigeria has approximately 22 to 26 active or functional government-owned airports, along with a few private airstrips/airports. The primary government-managed airports are overseen by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) [1].
These typically include:
Five main international gateways: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu.
The remaining are a mix of major domestic airports and airstrips that cater to commercial and general aviation traffic [1].
The exact total number can vary slightly depending on whether smaller, non-commercial private airstrips are included in a count.
Pilots
There is no precise, universally agreed-upon public figure for the current total number of active pilots in Nigeria, as numbers fluctuate with licensing and renewals. However, available estimates suggest there are roughly 2,000 to 3,000 licensed pilots in the country [2].
This figure is comprised of:
Pilots working for both domestic and international commercial airlines.
Pilots in general aviation and private charter operations.
There is often a debate about the availability of experienced pilots versus the raw number of licensed personnel, as the industry faces challenges with training, retention, and a shortage of highly experienced commanders.
[1] (Multiple search results confirm this range for FAAN-managed airports)
[2] (Based on estimates from industry sources and reports)
Nigeria has approximately 31 to 33 airports, including five functional international airports. As of an April 2024 report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), there are over 2,049 licensed pilots in the country.
Airports
Total Airports: There are approximately 31 to 33 airports in Nigeria, including those operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), state governments, military, and private companies.
FAAN-Managed Airports: FAAN operates and manages 26 of these airports.
Functional International Airports: There are five main functional international airports:
Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (LOS)
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (ABV)
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (KAN)
Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa (PHC)
Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu (ENU)
Airstrips and Heliports: In addition to the airports, Nigeria has 92 airstrips and 131 heliports, often built and used by the military and multinational oil companies.
Pilots
Licensed Pilots: As of April 2024 data from the NCAA, there were 2,049 licensed pilots. Other sources in May 2025 mention "over 2,100 licensed pilots".
Pilot Distribution: The pilot numbers include those with commercial and private licenses, both Nigerian and foreign nationals with validation certificates.
Other Licensed Personnel (as of April 2024):
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers: 2,061
Air Traffic Controllers: 420
Cabin Crew: 3,770
Five airports share 89.7% passenger traffic in Nigeria in 2022
Airlines both foreign and local
Nigeria has approximately 9 to 11 active domestic airlines and over 30 foreign airlines operating within the country.
Local Airlines
The exact number of operational local (domestic) airlines in Nigeria can fluctuate due to operational challenges and regulatory issues. As of mid-2025, there are generally 9 to 11 active scheduled passenger airlines holding valid Air Operator's Certificates (AOCs).
Major operational domestic airlines include:
Air Peace
Arik Air
Max Air
United Nigeria Airlines
ValueJet
Ibom Air
Green Africa Airways
Overland Airways
Some other airlines operate charter or cargo services, adding to the total number of AOC holders.
Foreign Airlines
There are currently over 30 foreign airlines flying into Nigeria, primarily through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
These airlines connect Nigeria to destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia. Some of the major international carriers include:
British Airways
Delta Air Lines
Qatar Airways
Emirates
Ethiopian Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Air France
Lufthansa
Middle East Airlines (MEA)
Royal Air Maroc
Kenya Airways
South African Airways
Nigeria is a key aviation hub in Africa, serving numerous local and foreign airlines.
Local (Domestic) Airlines
There are approximately 10 to 13 active domestic passenger airlines operating scheduled commercial flights in Nigeria, although some reports mention a higher number of certified operators including cargo and charter services.
Key active domestic carriers include:
Air Peace: The largest Nigerian airline, which also operates regional and international routes.
Arik Air
Ibom Air (owned by Akwa Ibom State)
United Nigeria Airlines
Max Air
Green Africa Airways
Overland Airways
ValueJet
Aero Contractors (currently operating mostly charter and MRO services)
Azman Air
Foreign Airlines
There are approximately 18 to over 22 foreign airlines that operate flights into Nigeria's international airports, connecting the country to various global destinations.
Major international carriers flying to Nigeria include:
British Airways
Emirates
Qatar Airways
Delta Air Lines
Virgin Atlantic
Lufthansa
Turkish Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines
Air France
KLM
EgyptAir
South African Airways
Kenya Airways
RwandAir
Middle East Airlines
Asky Airlines
Africa World Airlines
TAAG Angola Airlines
These foreign airlines currently dominate the international travel market in Nigeria, raking in a significant portion of the revenue as local operators struggle to earn even a dime.
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