Nigeria’s Air Passenger Traffic Below 2% of GDP Potential

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, has revealed that Nigeria’s air passenger traffic remains significantly below its economic potential, accounting for less than two per cent when compared with the country’s GDP capacity.

Kuku explained that despite Nigeria’s large population and growing economy, the number of people travelling by air is still relatively low compared to global standards. According to her, the situation indicates that many Nigerians who could potentially travel by air are not doing so due to several structural and economic constraints.

She noted that passenger traffic in aviation is largely driven by economic activities such as tourism, trade, and business travel. To improve air travel demand, she stressed the need to strengthen the business environment and promote sectors capable of attracting both domestic and international travellers.

The FAAN boss also highlighted the importance of developing Nigeria into a regional aviation hub. Achieving this, she said, would require improved transit facilities at airports, better bilateral air service agreements with other countries, and stronger airline participation to increase flight connections into and out of Nigeria.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola