Nigeria warns states against unviable airport projects

Nigeria's Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) is cautioning state governments against pursuing airport projects without thorough economic and feasibility studies. Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku highlighted that less than 10% of Nigeria's 220 million population travels by air, with approximately 17.5 million air travelers recorded in 2025.

“

The cost and investment in airports are actually greater than you think. It’s not just about the building.

Kuku emphasized that building and maintaining airports involves significant financial commitments beyond just terminal construction. She pointed out that the cost includes runway development, meeting global aviation standards, and ensuring adequate safety infrastructure like fire trucks and trained aviation security personnel.

“

It is a global standard; it’s not a Nigerian standard. For me to keep an airport running as an international airport, I need to make sure I have a sufficient number of fire trucks, fire personnel and aviation security personnel.

"The cost and investment in airports are actually greater than you think. It’s not just about the building," Kuku stated. She stressed that airports are a global standard, requiring substantial resources for operation and safety.

“

Airports are no joke for me.

The FAAN boss urged states to consider the economic viability and potential passenger and cargo traffic before investing. She suggested that states should foster economic activities, such as sports, events, manufacturing, agriculture, or tourism, to generate the necessary demand to support airport operations. "Airports are no joke for me," she added.

“

The average number of travellers shows Nigeria recorded about 17.5 million in 2025. We have a population of 220 million people. It means that less than 10 per cent of our population is flying.