Ex-Pilot Gbadamasi Reveals Nigeria's Airport Viability Issues

Capt. Mohammed Gbadamasi, a former pilot with Nigerian Airways, reported that only four of Nigeria's federal government-owned airports—located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano—are currently commercially viable. He noted that several state-owned airports are struggling to attract enough traffic to sustain operations.

Airports in Calabar, Imo, Uyo, and Osubi in Warri have shown signs of partial commercial viability, but many of the 19 state-built airports are facing significant challenges. Gbadamasi explained that the financial burden has increased due to the transfer of some state-owned airports to the Federal Government, which has added to the liabilities of already strained government agencies.

He attributed the poor performance of these airports to their proximity to larger airports and the weak tourism industry in Nigeria. Gbadamasi proposed an integrated travel system that would allow passengers to use a single ticket for flights, hotels, and ground transportation, which could help develop a tourism ecosystem benefiting various sectors.