Despite Huge Investments, Unviable Airports Dot Nigerian States

Despite lingering concerns about economic viability and criticism from aviation experts, state governments across Nigeria are aggressively pursuing airport projects, pouring billions of naira into building new terminals, runways and facilities.

From the dusty terrain of Gusau to the industrial hub of Abia, and from the Gateway State of Ogun to the North-western axis of Zamfara, the race to build airports is on. But beyond the pomp and pageantry of these grand projects lies a more fundamental question: will they take off or crash land?

In this special feature, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR delves into the story behind the airport boom, exploring the motivations, challenges and potential impact of these projects on the nation’s aviation landscape.

Nigeria’s drive to connect every state capital to the national air network has led to a proliferation of airports, with subnational entities establishing airports in their domains.

While air transport infrastructure is widely recognised as a catalyst for socio-economic development, experts emphasise that viability must be the primary consideration for such projects.

Despite having the highest number of airports in Africa, many of Nigeria’s airports are not viable for passenger flights and other activities.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) manages over 23 airports across the country, but state governments continue to invest heavily in new airport projects, driven by the desire to connect their cities and towns to the national air link.

However, investigations reveal that at least 15 states have spent a staggering N301 billion on airports that have failed to meet their yearly passenger traffic projections.

These underutilised airports, scattered across the country, often record few or no daily flights, with some only receiving occasional chartered flights.

Experts argue that a single kilometre of airport runway can connect a community to the global network, making it a more efficient investment than thousands of kilometres of roads.

However, the focus on building new airports has raised concerns about the economic viability of these projects.

Nigeria has 31 airports, with 23 managed by FAAN. Since 1999, 15 airports have been built by state governments. , including Asaba, Muhammadu Buhari, and Akwa Ibom airports. According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), 15 airports have been built by state governments since 1999.

These include: Asaba Airport, Muhammadu Buhari Airport (Ebonyi), Akwa Ibom Airport (Uyo), Bayelsa International Airport, Ogun Cargo Airport, MKO Abiola International Airport, Osun (uncompleted), Ekiti Cargo Airport, Anambra Cargo Airport (Umuleri), Abia Airport, Wachakal Airport (Damaturu), Dutse International Airport, Lafia Airport (uncompleted), Kebbi Airport, Auchi Airport (Edo State) (uncompleted), Zamfara Airport, Nasarawa Airport and Gombe Airport. Additionally, many first-generation airports built by the Federal Government during the military era are struggling to become profitable.

These include: Makurdi Airport, Port Harcourt Airport, Enugu Airport, Kano Airport, Kaduna Airport, Benin Airport, Owerri Airport, Jos Airport, Sokoto Airport, Maiduguri Airport, Yola Airport, Bauchi Airport, Akure Airport, Ibadan Airport, Ilorin Airport, Calabar Airport, Minna Airport and Katsina Airport.

The airports built by state governments have been handed over to FAAN for management, but they are considered unsustainable by aviation experts and add a financial burden to the agency. However, many of these airports are underutilised and unviable, with some having only one or two flights a week.

Former NCAA Director-General Captain Musa Nuhu and FAAN Managing Director Captain Rabiu Yadudu have expressed concerns about the financial burden of managing these airports, which are not commercially viable.

Despite opposition, state governments have continued to build airports, with over N301 billion spent on unproductive airports in 16 years. The Ebonyi Airport, built at a cost of N36 billion, was commissioned in 2019, with the NCAA describing it as the best in Nigeria. Aviation experts argue that the proliferation of state airports has placed a huge burden on FAAN and the NCAA, and that a more sustainable approach is needed.

Several state governments in Nigeria have invested in building airports, despite criticisms and concerns about their viability. Some of these projects include: Anambra Airport: Completed in 2021 at a cost of N6 billion, solely funded by the state government; Ekiti Cargo Airport, completed in 2023 at a cost of N16.6 billion, despite initial criticisms; Bayelsa International Airport, built by former Governor Seriake Dickson and completed in 2019; MKO Abiola International Airport (Osun), construction began in 2012, with a revised cost of N11 billion; Ogun State Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport, construction commenced in 2021, with a projected cost of N40 billion; Victor Attah International Airport (Akwa Ibom), completed in 2006 at a cost of N25 billion, with an additional $100 million spent on an MRO facility; Abia Airport, conceived by Senator Theodore Orji’s administration, despite the proximity of Sam Mbakwe Airport; Dutse International Airport, built by former Governor Sule Lamido at a cost of N4 billion, despite being located near Aminu Kano International Airport; Ahmadu Bello Airport (Bauchi), constructed at a cost of N14 billion, aimed at attracting investors and generating revenue; and Nasarawa Airport, conceived by former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura at an estimated cost of N10 billion, to ease cargo traffic at Abuja’s airport. These projects have raised concerns about their economic viability and the potential for wasteful spending.

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Speaking in an interview, President of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Nwuba, said Nigeria needs more airports, but they are all being built at unsustainable scale. Nwuba said, “Airports are necessary to access a city or state and maintain its competitiveness. You can draw a straight line of correlation between cities that have airports and development against their peers. No one wants to go to his neighbour for export nor do they want to travel miles in a medical emergency. Yes, airports are long-term development assets. Nigeria needs more airports. The problem is they are all being built at an unsustainable scale.”

Also, the Chairman of Concerned Aviation Group, Mr. Barnabas Ezenwanne, said governors must be stopped from further building new airports. He said the Federal Government should be blamed for granting licenses to operate to governors, who, he said, construct airports for personal reasons. “Some airports constructed by state governors are dormant. It is even better to place a ban on the building of new airports. Now that we are talking about paucity of funds, some of these airports should even be converted into something else. Governors are constructing airports indiscriminately because the central government allows them. Only the Federal Government can stop further construction of airports in Nigeria,” he added.

Founder of Aviation Summit, Capt Dele Osanipin, said FAAN should stop funding dormant airports, saying doing so makes no economic sense. Osanipin said: “I am not blind to the fact that accessing certain places by road comes with a lot of challenges, especially given the insecurity in the land. That said, state governors cannot continue with the culture of waste. We have been calling on relevant aviation authorities to stop granting licenses to them. Apart from draining their state’s resources, the airports overwhelm the financial capacity of FAAN.”

On his part, a former rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Captain Samuel Caulcrick, said instead of agonising over the number of airports, they should be seen as catalysts for development. He said: “Airports are development’s catalysts as settlements spring up around airports with attendant economic activities. Given that perspective, the planner ought to focus on the catalytic aspect of building an airport to reap the economic gains. We should instead take advantage of the number of airports by rearranging development and pivoting on the available airports. One such reason is the lack of good road infrastructure to move local produce from the states to other areas or the outside world – air transport would bridge that shortfall.”

Also speaking, Chairman of West Link Airlines, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, said the number of airports should be higher than what it is. He explained: “Airports are vital for national development. Nigeria currently should have at least 700 airstrips and approximately 50 airports. Airports are a necessity; not a luxury. For instance, if there is a need to rapidly deploy troops to places like Maiduguri for combat, using roads is not a practical option. Bandits can cause havoc before reaching the destination. Airports are essential to open up industrial and agricultural areas for the import and export of goods. The state of the road network in the country is often inadequate. Many states, like Imo, Rivers and Abia, with thriving industries, require airports for efficient transportation.

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“Ideally, Nigeria should have a minimum of 36 airports, including one in the Federal Capital Territory. However, when there are educational gaps and hunger in the nation, building airports may not be a top priority. Another issue is that individuals who criticise airport construction might change their stance when awarded a contract for airport construction. This reflects a lack of patriotism in Nigeria. While the current locations of airports in the country are suitable, it’s crucial to consider the economic well-being of local communities. Providing employment opportunities at these airports can help alleviate hunger and poverty. In summary, Nigeria lacks an adequate number of airports, and corruption has contributed to this shortfall. The country’s leaders need to prioritize the nation’s development and the welfare of its citizens.”

Similarly, Group Captain John Ojikutu said: “The problem is not with the states that are building airports but with the Federal Government regulatory authority that approves the construction and comes thereafter to take over. That is another institutional corruption. The questions to ask: What is growth in the air and passenger traffic in the last 10 years that has warranted the number of airports built by states? What is the figure of air passengers from states that are building these airports? For example, what could have necessitated an airport in Ekiti that is just about 20 minutes flight to Akure, or what is even the passenger traffic in Akure in the last 10 years?

“Most states building these airports lack basic health services for the large number of their indigenes. They lack a good road network and good environment for their primary schools. These minimum social services are lacking in virtually all the states building these airports which are meant only for the few rich members in the states. The air passenger projection in 2000 for 2020 was 20 million. Unfortunately, as of today and three years later, the highest is 16 million in 2019. It is doubtful if that figure can be attained in the next two years with the increase in airfare. We should be able to operate a lesser number of airports than the present number if there are good interstate and intercity roads connecting those with airports and those without.’’

He insisted that construction of the airport had been completed and the state was merely waiting for certifications to begin commercial operations. “Before the governor left, the facility was completed and aircraft landed there but to make it an airport where commercial aircraft can land and take off, there is a lot of certifications that need to be done and that is what we are currently doing. These additional certifications with NCAA and some other agencies are additional costs. The facility is ready but we can’t begin commercial operations there until the certifications are done and it is not cheap,” he said.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Afe Babalola University Multi- System Hospital (AMSH), Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, has lamented the continued absence of a functional airport and motorable federal roads in Ekiti. Ogundipe, who is a former Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, made this known, while addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday on the exploits of the other annexes of the hospital across the state, and what they are doing free, to further serve the communities, and enhance the accessibility of healthcare. According to him, these factors seriously constitute huge challenges and also affecting the genuine interest, as well as the resolve of the founder of the university and hospital, Chief Afe Babalola, (SAN), in putting an end to medical tourism in the country.

He regretted that Babalola had invested so much in his desire to help the federal government in bringing quality healthcare, capable of putting a stop to medical tourism in the country. “The kind of healthcare services you get here in AMSH is at par with what you will get overseas. The challenges we face here are numerous. A number of persons who would have loved to be here, if there was a functional airport in Ekiti State cannot come, and that is quite unfortunate. When we have a functional airport that can be taken care of, but as of today, we are still faced with a challenge that we don’t have. Rather, people have to rely on the nearest airport, which is in Akure, and then face the security challenge that is on the road.

“There is none of us who want to go to Akure now that won’t first pray before we embark on the journey. These are the challenges that those who are also coming to patronise us are also facing. If we can eliminate this, we will have resolved a bulk of our challenges. Above all, the earnings of many Nigerians now cannot even take them home, not to talk of taking them to the hospital and taking them back.”

The CMD, however, said that despite all the challenges, the hospital still has scores of patients, coming from many countries, especially the United Kingdom and Canada, who do come regularly to the hospital, or some who would have loved to come to the hospital, but they don’t have the funds. “What has happened to health insurance, and has the government been able to provide health insurance for all the populace? We hope that we can also rise together and resolve these challenges. If you are living abroad and you are leaving there to come home for that purpose.

Ekiti is landlocked, and all the federal roads leading to the state are bad, and there is only one direct flight to Ekiti, which is Akure, you discover that the problems are enormous, but we are hoping that one day, it will be taken care of.”

Despite criticisms about the viability of some state-built airports, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo launched the Gusau International Airport project in Zamfara last week.

The project, worth N62 billion, aims to boost economic development and create jobs in the North-West region.

The airport will feature modern facilities, including a 3.4-kilometer runway, terminal building, control tower, and more.

Meanwhile, Abia State is also planning to build an airport, with officials from the Ministry of Aviation inspecting a proposed site.

Governor Dr. Alex Otti announced that Access Bank is willing to partner on the project, which has been included in the 2024 Federal Appropriation Act.

The Federal Government team, led by Permanent Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, aims to ensure the project meets regulatory requirements and is completed quickly.

The Gateway International Agro Cargo and Passenger Airport in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, is set to commence operations soon.

Additionally, an aircraft maintenance and repair facility, Air First Maintenance and Repair Facility, is planning to establish a flight training school for young pilots and aeronautic engineers.

The facility aims to perform routine maintenance on most aircraft, eliminating the need for overseas trips.

President Gbolahan Abatan met with Governor Dapo Abiodun to discuss the project, which includes aircraft assembling and job creation for locals and people from other states.

The facility’s certification process is underway, with plans to move in by the end of June.

The airport’s facilities, including the longest runway in the country, are considered first-class, with cutting-edge technology for aircraft and airport management.

The state government is delighted to partner with Air First, a company with a track record of excellence in aircraft maintenance.

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