Nigeria's Air Passenger Traffic Surges 11.9% in 2025

In 2025, Nigeria recorded over 18.8 million domestic and international air passengers, marking an 11.9 percent year-on-year increase, which positions the country as Africa's fourth-largest aviation market. Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, disclosed these figures during the Airports Council International Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition 2026 held in Abuja.

Onabanjo-Kuku, who also serves as Vice-President of Airports Council International Africa, noted that this growth reflects a rising demand and renewed interest from international airlines. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos experienced a 24.1 percent increase in scheduled seat capacity among Africa’s ten largest airports in September.

Nigeria's total scheduled airline capacity reached 1.19 million seats, up 37.4 percent from the previous year. Factors contributing to this expansion include currency reforms, new aircraft leasing arrangements, and increased confidence among international airlines.

Despite this growth, Africa accounts for only about one percent of global air traffic, indicating significant potential for further expansion.