Governments cautioned about pursuing financially unsustainable aviation infrastructure plans

Cautioning against ill-conceived airport projects, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, has advised state governments to conduct thorough economic and feasibility assessments before embarking on such ventures, given that less than 10 per cent of Nigerians currently travel by air.

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Kuku made these remarks during an online public engagement over the weekend, where she emphasized that building and sustaining airports requires significant financial commitments that extend far beyond the construction of terminal buildings.

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According to Kuku, many proposed state-owned airports may struggle to remain viable if passenger demand and economic activities are not carefully considered, highlighting the need for airport development to be driven by sound business considerations.

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The FAAN boss noted that the cost and investment in airports are actually greater than one might think, involving more than just the building, but also the construction of a runway of a certain length and width, depending on the type of aircraft and airport category.

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Kuku further stressed that owning an airport also involves meeting global aviation standards, including the provision of adequate firefighting equipment, trained aviation security personnel, and other safety infrastructure, which is a global standard that must be adhered to.

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She emphasized the importance of meeting these standards, stating that for her to keep an airport running as an international airport, she needs to ensure she has a sufficient number of fire trucks, fire personnel, and aviation security personnel, underscoring that airports are a serious undertaking.

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Nigeria recorded about 17.5 million air travellers in 2025, despite having a population of about 220 million people, a figure that highlights the limited size of the country’s aviation market, with less than 10 per cent of the population flying.

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Kuku urged state governments to think about airport development from an economic perspective, considering factors such as viability and how to improve connectivity and traffic in the airport, before making such investments.

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The FAAN MD encouraged state governments to deliberately create economic activities capable of generating passenger and cargo traffic, noting that airports thrive when supported by industries, commerce, and tourism.

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Kuku suggested that state governments consider initiatives such as putting up a sporting centre or hosting events that would attract people to their city, or investing in manufacturing plants, agriculture, or cargo that would drive cargo traffic into their city.

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While acknowledging that some state governments have justified airport projects on security and accessibility grounds, Kuku emphasized the need for governments to also address broader transportation challenges by strengthening road and rail infrastructure.

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She noted that air travel is one of the safest modes of transport in Nigeria today, but governments must also look at improving the security architecture of the states and investing more in rail, as well as developing multimodal transport options.

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Kuku maintained that airports can contribute significantly to economic growth when properly planned, but warned that projects lacking sustainable traffic projections and supporting infrastructure could become expensive assets with limited returns.