AM EDITORIAL: 2025: A Year Of Opportunities For Nigeria’s Aviation Sector

2025 is a year of opportunities for reset and progress as it concerns Nigeria’s aviation sector after a 2024 year of highs and lows.

On the lows, 2024 recorded a fatal air crash involving Eastwind Aviation Sikorsky SK76 helicopter. There were also some arguably avoidable safety related incidents in 2024 involving Flybird HS 125, Runway Excursion of B737-400 cargo aircraft and so on.

An element of political interference in the industry regulator’s powers was seen in the approach to suspension of Dana Air from operation and a few other scenarios.

Local airlines contended with constraints of scarcity of forex and high exchange rates, jet fuel costs, high maintenance costs, aged airports infrastructure challenges and other factors that built mountains of incredible operating costs. The very poor on-time performance records by local airlines spoke in 2024 with 2,434 flights out of 5,291 delayed in September alone, with 79 flights cancelled and 2,791 out of 5513 flights of October delayed and 111 cancelled.

Part of the highs recorded in 2024 was the Minister’s aggressive pursuit of the six Key Point Indicators (KPIs) that he set for himself on assumption of office. There were visible efforts to support Nigeria’s local airlines. Meetings were held with aircraft manufacturers. MOUs were signed to ease access to aircraft by Nigerian airlines. These are expected to result in low maintenance costs, training support and ease of doing business in the coming years. The Cape Town Convention Practice Directions was signed to strengthen the weak investor confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The recovery of control of lucrative Lagos-London route from foreign airlines was achieved in March 2024 as Air Peace commenced direct flights on that route. Fares were reduced drastically to enable more Nigerians travel on that route and address the forex challenge. This flight commencement by Air Peace was made possible by the Minister’s driven government backing for the local airline, Air Peace.

NCAA through it’s Consumer Protection Directorate was very active in 2024 as enlightenment of air travellers on their rights was massive, while many consumer complaints were addressed. Refunds were made and compensations were paid where necessary in cases of flight cancellations and delays.

Regulation and oversight of industry gained more strength under the leadership of the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Chris Najomo. The result of ICAO Audit in March was commendable. Regional Offices of NCAA in Port Harcourt and Kano were commissioned to optimize NCAA‘s operations. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja were recertified by NCAA after expiration of their certificates since 2017.

More local airlines such as Ibom Air, Overland Airways and Air Peace took deliveries of modern airplanes amidst unfavourable state of Nigeria’s economy.

The industry leadership and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) took bolder steps on airport security, actualizing the carrying of arms by FAAN security personnel as approved by federal government. The tackling of corruption by airports personnel and airports touting was given premium attention while the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) liaised with the National Security Adviser to enhance collaboration of security agencies operating at the airports.

The year 2025 is pregnant. Considering the policy shift orientation of Minister Keyamo and his demonstrated commitment to the industry’s growth and development since he assumed office one year ago, there are expectations that the layers of foundational measures for adjustments created by the ministry in 2024 would move to the next level in 2025.

There is an opportunity for more strategic measures to ensure survival of local airlines in particular and the entire industry in 2025. The review of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) to ensure they favour Nigeria, seems to have started but requires speed in 2025. The review of policy on aircraft fleet limit will help address passenger service related issues and patterns of commercial airlines AOCs in 2025.

Government aviation training institutions are expected to be empowered financially in the interest of industry manpower. Planning without data can be likened to clapping with one hand. The attention being given to data capturing by the NCAA should therefore be taken to the next level this year. Data of both private and public Aviation Training Organizations products should be adequately harmonized. Other critical data for industry planning should become more visible and useful in 2025.

In 2025, government is expected to act on proposed airports concession and airports financing models. Industry is hopeful that the age-long airports infrastructure minuses, which Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, FAAN Managing Director/Chief Executive has indicated commitment to address, will begin removal processes in 2025.

Review of airports customer charges and levies is critical to encourage investment. Handling companies also require some government incentives to survive and minimize costs, which impact on handling costs.

Improved economic oversight of airlines by NCAA will help to minimize the fluctuations in local airlines survival while addressing MRO and insurance issues will be a noble idea in 2025. NCAA needs to take its on-going automation processes to the next level in the interest of the industry.

2024 saw ministerial piloting of industrial harmony and stakeholder engagements in the interest of the industry. This trend is expected to grow. The Ministry’s innovation of planning a Nigeria International Airshow for 2025, devoid of government resources according to Minister Keyamo, is a potential industry benefit likely to boost investor confidence, attract more collaborations between airlines and aircraft/parts manufacturers, airport consultants and other international stakeholders to Nigeria. Inauguration of boards for aviation agencies will help the industry this year.

Also, implementing the numerous industry development recommendations from the quarterly Business Breakfast Meetings of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) will do the industry a lot of good in 2025.

Nigeria is the giant of Africa and the country’s aviation sector is in its 100th year of highs and lows. 2025 is another opportunity to right wrongs, undo mistakes and possibly reset the industry for the right path to speedy growth and development. AM