Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Canvasses Improved Air Connectivity In Africa, Next-Generation Airports

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) says “there is, significantly, one challenge we must confront collectively, and that is the challenge of connectivity. It should not be easier to travel between an African city and a destination outside the continent than to travel between two African cities.

Africa needs stronger intra-African connectivity, commercially viable airports, appropriate regulatory frameworks and closer cooperation among governments, airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders. The Single African Air Transport Market offers an important framework for achieving this ambition.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is creating a larger economic space. Aviation must help make that economic integration real. When African airports connect Africa more effectively, Africa becomes smaller, and opportunity becomes larger.”

Keyamo was speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the 35th ACI Africa Annual General Assembly, 76th Board and Committee Meetings, Regional Conference and Exhibition held in Abuja.

He said “Africa has the market, the people, the geography, the tourism assets and the entrepreneurial energy. What we must do is build the infrastructure, policies, connectivity and institutional capacity to convert this enormous potential into sustainable value” adding that “the future of airports must ultimately be measured by the quality of the passenger experience. Biometrics can make processing easier. Artificial intelligence can improve operational decisions. Automation can reduce queues. Data can help us anticipate demand. Digital platforms can improve communication. But technology is only meaningful when it makes a person’s journey safer, easier, faster and more dignified.

We must therefore build smart airports with human hearts.”

Keyamo said “the airport of the future cannot simply be a larger terminal building. A next-generation airport must be safe, efficient, financially sustainable, technologically enabled, environmentally responsible and capable of adapting to disruption.

The experience of the past few years has shown us how vulnerable aviation can be to pandemics, geopolitical tensions, economic shocks, climate events, cyber threats and infrastructure disruptions. Resilience therefore cannot be an afterthought. It must be designed into our airports, our systems, our business models and our institutions.

We must embrace digital transformation, smarter infrastructure, data-driven decision-making and innovative commercial models. However, technology must never make us forget the human being at the centre of aviation.

The passenger must remain our ultimate measure of success. A smart airport must also be a welcoming airport. We should also recognize that the airport business is changing rapidly. Airports are increasingly becoming platforms for commerce, logistics, tourism, technology and investment. The successful airport of tomorrow will be one that understands its passengers, manages its resources intelligently, develops diversified revenue streams and builds strong relationships with airlines, communities and governments.

For African airports, this is both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. Our continent has some of the world’s fastest-growing urban centres and some of its most compelling tourism, cultural and business destinations. If we can match that potential with efficient gateways, reliable connectivity and globally competitive service standards, aviation can become an even stronger engine of African development.

This is why forums such as this matter. They allow us to learn from one another, confront common challenges honestly and return home with solutions that can be implemented.”

He noted that “ACI Africa is much more than an association of airports. It is a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, advocacy, professional development and collective action.

Representing 64 members in 51 countries and about 250 airports, ACI Africa gives our continent an important voice within the global airport community. That role is increasingly important because Africa’s aviation market is growing. Passenger traffic across the continent continues to expand, driven by population growth, urbanization, tourism, trade and an emerging middle class. But growth alone is not enough.

Our challenge is to turn growth into sustainable airport performance; to make our airports safer, more efficient, more commercially viable, more passenger-friendly and more resilient. That is why this year’s theme, “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience,” is so timely.”

He further stated that the government of Nigeria “remains committed to working with ACI Africa, ACI World, African governments, airport operators, airlines, regulators, investors and development partners to build an aviation sector that is safe, competitive, sustainable, innovative and resilient.

Our commitment is unimpeachable. When our airports perform better, our economies perform better. When our airports become more resilient, our nations become more resilient. And when African airports connect Africa, Africa moves forward together.”

“Nigeria is therefore encouraging greater private-sector participation in airport infrastructure and services, while maintaining the standards of safety, security, service and public interest that must guide the industry. We are also supporting the development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul capacity, aircraft leasing, cargo infrastructure and other parts of the aviation value chain. Our ambition is straightforward: Nigeria should not merely consume aviation services. We must increasingly produce aviation value. And we believe Africa should do the same”, he said.