Nigeria recorded over 18.8 million domestic and international air passengers in 2025, solidifying its position as the fourth-largest aviation market in Africa. The figures were disclosed on Tuesday morning, September 22, 2026, by Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Speaking at an industry stakeholder address, Kuku detailed the metrics driving the country’s post-recovery growth in air traffic and outlined ongoing efforts to modernize national airport infrastructure. According to data presented by FAAN, total passenger throughput across Nigeria’s commercial airports surged past 18.8 million passengers in 2025, driven by expanding fleet capacity and elevated domestic traffic.
Kuku highlighted notable operational gains at the nation’s primary aviation hub, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, where scheduled seat capacity expanded by 24.1% in September alone—marking the fastest capacity growth among Africa’s top 10 airports.
Citing global benchmark data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Kuku noted that African airlines recorded a 6.4% year-on-year surge in international passenger demand in July 2026, outperforming global trends. ”We have focused on the core fundamentals: safe runways, functional terminals, and reliable systems,” said Kuku.
“These figures demonstrate the resilient demand for air travel across Nigeria and position us as a major driver of Africa’s broader aviation expansion.” To support rising passenger traffic, FAAN has deployed several technological upgrades across Nigeria’s major air terminals.
Key initiatives currently being rolled out include; Automated E-Passport Gates for accelerated processing at international arrival halls to minimise wait times. Next-Gen Check-in Systems: Digital check-in infrastructure aimed at streamlining passenger flow and Advanced Analytics: Data-driven passenger processing and security management systems.
Kuku also announced that FAAN achieved international quality benchmarks in January 2026, securing both ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management) certifications. She added that over 3,500 personnel have undergone specialized training through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI).
Despite the milestone, the FAAN chief urged industry leaders and policymakers to remain clear-eyed about structural challenges facing the region. While passenger volumes in Nigeria are trending upward, Africa as a whole accounts for only 1% of global air traffic despite housing 18% of the world’s population.
Kuku emphasized that lower load factors and carrier profitability challenges remain persistent hurdles across the continent. FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to strategic infrastructure investment, policy alignment, and passenger safety measures to sustain market momentum through the rest of 2026 and beyond.
