Nigeria’s aviation industry experienced only modest growth in 2025, according to a prominent industry expert. Despite ongoing policy reforms and the country's rich cultural and ecological attractions, the sector continues to face challenges that hinder its ability to attract and accommodate tourists effectively.
Olusoji Amusani, former President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) and ex-manager at Lufthansa German Airlines in Nigeria, highlighted that the sector failed to deliver significant progress in positioning air transport as a driver of tourism and economic growth. He outlined systemic issues such as poor accessibility, high costs, and unwelcoming travel experiences which persist across Nigeria’s air transport system.
Challenges and Criticisms
Amusani criticized the lack of strong support for indigenous airlines like Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest international carrier, noting the sector’s systemic weaknesses. He emphasized that Nigerian travelers show limited support for local airlines, which impairs the growth of inbound tourism. He also pointed out that past policy setbacks continue to undermine investor confidence and sectoral development.
“We have not done what we ought to do. We didn’t achieve much in the aviation sector in 2025, though there were a few gains. In terms of growth and making our aviation tourist-friendly, we did not achieve much,”
said Amusani.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that reforms, particularly the implementation of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, contributed to a mild industry growth. The current Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, played a pivotal role in advancing this framework, which has begun to restore international confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Despite these positive developments, Amusani cautioned that without deliberate efforts to enhance the tourism-friendliness of airports, airlines, and immigration procedures, the benefits of these reforms may not translate into meaningful increases in passenger traffic or inbound tourism.
