NCAA Projects 25.7 Million Passengers 2029, Annual Revenue Of $2.58
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria says the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has projected that Nigeria’s airports will handle 25.7 million passengers by 2029, an increase from the 15.89 million passengers of 2023.
The President who disclosed this in his speech delivered by Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume at the two-day first Nigerian International Airshow that kicked off in Abuja today said “Nigeria handled 15.89 million passengers in 2023, and projections by the NCAA show this will rise to 25.7 million by 2029, with annual revenue expected to reach $2.58 billion.“
Highlighting Nigeria’s achievements, he said the federal government is investing heavily in modernization. “Six major airports and multiple runways are undergoing upgrades, including a ₦712 billion refurbishment of Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport” and that on compliance and global standards, “Nigeria now ranks No. 1 in Africa for compliance with international aviation standards, improving its Cape Town Convention score from 49.5% to 75.5%, enabling airlines to access low-cost aircraft financing.”
“We have signed agreements with Boeing and Cranfield University to establish state-of-the-art MRO facilities, reducing the $200 million annual capital flight for overseas maintenance. Aero Contractors and XEJet are leading this transformation with new hubs in Lagos and Abuja.” He equally noted that Air Peace resumed Lagos–London flights after five years, and new Bilateral Air Services Agreements have brought Emirates and Uganda Airlines back to Nigeria.
“Aviation now contributes 2.5% to Nigeria’s GDP, supported by 20 airports, 23 domestic airlines, and thousands of skilled professionals,” he said.
He said “Nigeria is not just hosting its first international airshow. We are actively participating in global platforms. Recently, Nigeria showcased its aerospace ambitions at the Dubai Airshow, signaling our readiness to collaborate on defense and next-generation technologies.” He added that Nigeria’s “goal is clear: to make Nigeria the aviation hub of West and Central Africa. Through public-private partnerships, investments in training centers, and plans for aircraft component manufacturing, we are building a sustainable ecosystem that creates jobs, drives innovation, and strengthens our economy.”
In his speech, the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) said “for decades, the question has been asked: When will Nigeria take its rightful place in the global aviation showcase circuit? Today, with this inaugural Airshow, we provide a clear and confident answer.
This is our first attempt. It will not be perfect. We are taking baby steps, but we are taking them with courage, conviction, and clarity of purpose. As with every great beginning, we will learn from this experience. We will improve, and we will build upon it until the Nigeria International Airshow becomes a permanent fixture on the global aviation calendar, standing shoulder to shoulder with Paris, Dubai, Farnborough, and Singapore.”
Keyamo said in the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, “aviation has emerged as one of the fastest-advancing sectors, with transformative milestones that are reshaping Nigeria’s status as a regional powerhouse.”
He highlighted the sector’s achievements as strengthening of aviation safety and security in form of attainment and maintenance of world-class safety rankings through rigorous regulatory oversight by the NCAA, upgrade and recertification of major airports to meet international safety standards, deployment of enhanced safety-critical equipment including approach lighting systems, Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), and enhanced surveillance technologies, modernization and expansion of airport infrastructure, ongoing and completed terminal expansions to improve passenger experience, rehabilitation and strengthening of runways in key airports and introduction of cargo and logistics infrastructure reforms to improve Nigeria’s regional competitiveness.
“This Airshow represents more than an event. It is a statement of intent. It is a bold declaration that Nigeria is ready to lead, innovate, and compete on the global stage; it is a platform for discovery, investment, and collaboration. Here, global manufacturers, investors, regulators, airlines, innovators, and aviation enthusiasts will gather to explore opportunities, display cutting-edge technology, and shape the future of flight. It is also a platform for young Nigerians to see what is possible to be inspired by aerospace engineering, aviation technology, defence systems, drones, and the limitless universe of opportunities within the sector,” he said.
“As we take this bold first step, I ask that we remain patient, collaborative, and ambitious. It may not be perfect, but it is our beginning. With each edition, we will refine, expand, and elevate this Airshow until it becomes a global benchmark. We may be taking small steps, but they are steps toward greatness, toward a future where the Nigeria International Airshow becomes a global brand and a symbol of our nation’s ambition.
The future of Nigerian aviation is bright. And today, standing here at the maiden Nigeria International Airshow, we take flight toward that future, together,” he said.
