Lagos airport records 11.8% growth in air traffic in 2025, fastest in Africa

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has recorded an 11.8 percent growth in air traffic movements in 2025—the fastest among Africa’s top airports.

In cargo, Lagos also ranked among the continent’s leaders with a remarkable 34.4 percent increase, the highest within the Top 10.

These were disclosed by Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who highlighted fresh data underscoring Nigeria’s rising aviation profile during the ACI Africa Regional Conference & Exhibition in Luanda.

According to rankings presented at the conference, two Nigerian airports—Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos—placed among Africa’s Top 10.

Citing Official Airline Guide data, Kuku noted that Nigeria is now Africa’s second-largest domestic passenger market, with over 10.5 million passengers and 10 percent year-on-year growth.

“These are not just statistics,” she said. “They reflect the growing strategic importance of Nigeria as a key aviation, logistics, and commercial hub on the continent.”

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Looking ahead, Kuku formally invited delegates to the next ACI Africa gathering, scheduled for 19–25 September 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, under the theme ‘Next Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.’

She called for a new breed of airports that are agile, financially sustainable, technologically enabled, and customer-focused.

“Hosting this next conference is both an honour and a responsibility,” she said. “We look forward to receiving you with the hospitality, energy, and spirit for which Nigeria is proudly known.”

Over the past several days, delegates from across Africa convened under the theme ‘Stronger Airports, Stronger Africa.’ In her remarks, Kuku emphasised that airports are far more than transit points—they are strategic assets driving trade, tourism, employment, and economic integration.

“The future of African aviation will depend not only on infrastructure, but also on partnership, innovation, resilience, and the courage to think long term,” she told the audience, thanking the Government and people of Angola, the airport authorities, and the ACI Africa Secretariat for their hospitality.

She also singled out Sociedade Gestora de Aeroportos (SGA) for its partnership in delivering a memorable event.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.