“Why reviewing airport tariffs is essential for safety, modernisation and Nigeria’s ambition to lead African aviation”.
For over two decades, Nigeria’s aviation sector has operated under a financial paradox: expanding passenger traffic, rising security obligations and growing infrastructure demands — all funded by airport charges fixed in the early 2000s.
As inflation surges and global aviation standards evolve, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) continues to manage 22 airports nationwide with revenue models that no longer reflect economic or operational realities.
The conversation around FAAN’s upward review of airport charges must therefore be seen beyond revenue generation. It is fundamentally a policy decision about safety, sustainability, competitiveness and national economic growth.
According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, “Nigeria cannot continue to operate a modern aviation system with tariffs designed for another era. Our airports are running 24 hours a day, under strict international safety obligations, and those responsibilities must be sustainably funded”.
In simple terms, Nigeria cannot run a 2026 aviation ecosystem on 2002 pricing structures.
A System Frozen in Time
Airport charges in Nigeria have remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years. In that same period, the aviation industry has experienced sweeping transformation: fuel prices have multiplied, inflation has eroded purchasing power, security architecture has become more complex and digital technologies have replaced analogue systems.
While international airports routinely adjust tariffs every three to five years, Nigeria’s delay has left FAAN using obsolete cost-recovery models to fund modern infrastructure.
Kuku noted: “Across the world, airports review charges periodically to reflect operational realities. Nigeria’s long pause has created a widening gap between what it costs to run safe airports and what we are allowed to recover”. A policy reset is therefore overdue.
The Cost of Compliance in a Regulated Industry
Modern airports are highly regulated environments. Compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards demands continuous investment in people, processes and technology.
FAAN today must finance:
Runway and taxiway rehabilitation
Airfield lighting and navigational systems
Firefighting and emergency response equipment
Environmental protection programmes
Security screening and surveillance technology
Staff certification and recurrent training.
Each obligation carries heavy capital and recurrent costs. Without realistic tariffs, FAAN’s ability to meet regulatory benchmarks and maintain international credibility is weakened.
“Safety and compliance are not optional in aviation”, Kuku explained. “Every audit requirement, every security upgrade, every environmental standard comes with real financial commitments. If airports are underfunded, safety becomes difficult to sustain”.
Policy-wise, underfunding safety infrastructure is not an option.
Closing Nigeria’s Airport Infrastructure Gap
Across Nigeria, airport infrastructure requires strategic upgrades in terminals, aprons, baggage systems, boarding bridges, power supply, cooling systems, perimeter fencing and lightning protection.
These projects are capital-intensive and cannot be supported by legacy pricing. More importantly, infrastructure gaps affect Nigeria’s competitiveness against regional hubs such as Accra, Addis Ababa, Kigali and Johannesburg, which have invested aggressively in modern airport systems.
According to FAAN leadership, “Airports are economic gateways. If we do not invest in infrastructure, traffic will naturally migrate to countries that offer safer, faster and more efficient facilities”.
From a policy standpoint, infrastructure funding is not discretionary — it is a prerequisite for positioning Nigeria as a regional aviation hub.
Safety and Security as National Assets
Aviation safety protects lives, reputation and economic stability. New airport charges empower FAAN to invest in:
Modern crash fire tenders (CFTs)
Advanced passenger and baggage scanners
Airfield lighting upgrades
Continuous training for aviation security officers
Emergency operations centres
Beyond equipment, funding ensures continuous audit readiness for ICAO and NCAA inspections, protecting Nigeria from regulatory sanctions and reputational damage.
Kuku emphasised: “Safety is not where any nation cuts corners. Every naira invested in airport security, firefighting, training and navigation is an investment in human lives and Nigeria’s global aviation standing”.
In aviation policy, safety is not negotiable; it is an investment in national credibility.
Passenger Experience Is Now a Policy Issue
Airports are the first and last impression of a nation. Clean terminals, efficient security, reliable baggage systems, proper lighting, ventilation, Wi-Fi and professional customer service define global standards today.
Airlines equally demand efficient ground operations that support punctuality and fast turnaround. Revised airport charges give FAAN the financial capacity to meet these expectations, improve Nigeria’s travel image and enhance operational reliability.
“Passengers deserve airports that reflect Nigeria’s status”, Kuku said. “From sanitation to technology, from comfort to speed, service quality is no longer optional. It is central to competitiveness”.
In modern aviation governance, service quality is no longer cosmetic — it is strategic.
Aligning With Global Funding Models
Internationally, airport pricing follows ICAO’s cost-recovery and transparency principles. Airports in Europe, the Middle East and Asia review charges regularly to match operational realities and infrastructure growth.
Nigeria’s long delay in tariff review places it outside global norms. By adjusting charges, FAAN aligns with sustainable funding structures that ensure accountability, reinvestment and long-term viability.
According to FAAN management, “we are simply aligning Nigeria with international best practice where airports recover costs transparently and reinvest directly into safety and infrastructure”.
This alignment is both a regulatory and policy necessity.
Driving Economic and Trade Expansion
Aviation stimulates tourism, trade, logistics and job creation. Upgraded airports attract more airlines, expand cargo capacity, boost e-commerce and strengthen regional connectivity.
FAAN’s financial health directly influences Nigeria’s ability to leverage aviation for GDP growth.
“Every modern airport creates jobs, supports tourism, and drives commerce”, Kuku noted. “When airports grow, the economy grows with them”.
From an advocacy perspective, airport investment is economic investment.
Managing the Review Process With Stakeholders
For policy success, FAAN must continue structured engagement with airlines, ground handlers, labour unions, freight forwarders, regulators, passengers and the media.
Kuku stressed: “This review is not punitive. It is corrective. Our responsibility is to explain clearly how every adjustment feeds back into safety, infrastructure and service quality”.
Transparent communication, phased implementation and accountability will strengthen industry confidence.
Effective reform is built on consultation, not compulsion.
Paying for the Airports Nigeria Needs
Nigeria’s ambition for regional aviation leadership cannot rest on obsolete pricing. World-class airports require sustainable financing frameworks that support safety systems, infrastructure renewal and service excellence.
Summing it up, Kuku stated: “The airports Nigeria deserves must be paid for responsibly. Our goal is simple — safer airports, better service, modern infrastructure and a competitive aviation industry that benefits everyone”.
The review of FAAN airport charges is therefore not merely administrative — it is a strategic national policy choice to modernise Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, protect passengers, empower airlines and unlock economic value.
In the end, the beneficiaries are clear: travellers, operators, investors and the Nigerian economy.