As the current government winds down, it is making a spirited effort to meet the 2023 aviation roadmap target. The country’s aviation sector is beleaguered with manifold challenges, such as deficient infrastructure, exorbitant operating costs, and unsatisfactory safety records. Given the critical role the sector plays in the economy, the Federal Government has pledged to make Nigeria a West African hub for air transportation. To back up this promise, it set a goal of elevating the aviation industry by 2023 and unveiled a detailed roadmap outlining the actions needed to achieve the vision. With less than two months remaining before the administration ends on May 29, the government is racing against time to meet its targets.
The roadmap calls for the rehabilitation and upgrade of existing airports, the construction of new terminals, and the introduction of technologies that enhance safety and efficiency. It also includes plans to establish a national carrier that will enable Nigeria to compete with regional peers, boost tourism, and create jobs. To improve safety, the government says it will implement International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and establish a safety‑oversight system, while investing in modern equipment to enhance air‑traffic management and communication between controllers and pilots. Aviation Minister Hadi Sirka announced on Twitter that one of nine primary radar units has been procured, a step he says aligns with President Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for a safer, more secure, and efficient aviation sector since 2015.
The procurement of the radar, however, has drawn criticism. Group Capt. John Ojikutu, CEO of Centurion Security, noted that excluding the Nigerian Air Force from the purchase is “curious” because air‑space surveillance is normally a joint civil‑military operation. He also questioned why the minister, rather than the responsible agency NAMA, handled the acquisition. Meanwhile, the Accident Investigation Bureau was upgraded to the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) under the NSIB Act 2022, expanding its mandate to investigate serious incidents across aviation, maritime, rail, and road sectors.
Infrastructure upgrades are another key target. The government aims to rehabilitate existing terminals and build new ones to accommodate growing passenger numbers, as well as construct additional runways and taxiways to reduce delays. New terminals have already been completed at Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, and airfield lighting has been installed at several airports. The last national carrier ceased operations on 10 September 2012, and efforts to launch a new carrier have been contentious. Local airlines and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria sued to stop the establishment of Nigeria Air, alleging due‑process violations. Despite the litigation, the government insists the carrier will commence operations before May 29. Minister Sirka emphasized the carrier’s importance for job creation, economic impact, and national branding. Nigeria Air now has an approved outline business case, an interim board and management team, and Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor. Negotiations with the Ethiopian Airlines Group are ongoing, pending Federal Executive Council approval of the full business case. The minister claims the project is 98 percent complete.
A Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre is also part of the roadmap, deemed critical for diversifying and repositioning the industry. Experts note that such a facility does not currently exist in West or Central Africa. The full business case has been completed, the ICRC issued a certificate of compliance, and the Federal Executive Council approved the project, which is slated to begin operations before May 29 2023.
The government envisions developing major commercial airports and surrounding communities into efficient, profitable, self‑sustaining hubs through increased private‑sector participation and foreign direct investment, creating jobs and growing the local industry. To this end, it plans to establish aerotropolises—airport cities that house commercial facilities supporting airlines and aviation‑linked businesses, as well as hospitality, tourism‑oriented real estate, and ancillary infrastructure. Land has been acquired, and the selection of a preferred partner is underway. Four international airports—Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt—were designated as Special Economic Zones by President Buhari on 17 May 2021, a move intended to foster a business‑friendly environment, attract investment, and generate employment.
To improve airport efficiency, the government is pursuing private‑sector concessions for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Abuja), Port Harcourt International Airport, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Negotiations with preferred bidders have begun, and a draft full business case has been finalized, with a target completion in the second quarter of 2023.
Despite these ambitions, experts question the feasibility of the timeline. Centurion Security’s CEO John Ojikutu doubts any project can be completed with only six weeks left, noting that none appear to have reached 50 percent completion. Olumide Ohunayo, Assistant Secretary‑General of the Aviation RoundTable, warned that the administration is already in a transition phase, with pending litigation over concessions, the national carrier, a university with limited courses, and an MRO that has yet to launch after eight years. These concerns underscore the challenges the government faces in delivering on its expansive aviation roadmap before the end of its term.
Comments are closed for this story.