Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation industry will converge in Lagos on September 10, 2026, to explore smarter and more sustainable ways of expanding government revenue from the sector without undermining airline viability, investment and passenger connectivity.
The discussion will take centre stage at the 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), which will focus on the theme: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth”.
The landmark conference is expected to bring together the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo; government officials; aviation regulators; airline operators; airport managers; financial institutions; investors; aviation professionals; labour unions and other stakeholders across the aviation value chain.
The conference committee said the choice of the theme was informed by the growing fiscal pressures confronting the aviation industry and the need to develop a revenue framework that would support government earnings while creating room for aviation businesses to remain viable and competitive.
“At a time when the Nigerian aviation sector is undergoing significant reforms and infrastructure development, stakeholders believe that achieving a sustainable industry requires a careful balance between revenue generation by government and the creation of an enabling environment for investment, business growth and consumer affordability”, the committee said.
It said the conference would examine the implications of multiple charges on airlines and other operators, the high cost of aviation fuel, access to foreign exchange, aircraft acquisition and maintenance, airport infrastructure, regulatory effectiveness and the broader economic contribution of aviation to Nigeria.
Beyond existing charges, participants are expected to examine opportunities for expanding the sector’s revenue base through increased passenger traffic, cargo development, tourism, airport commercialisation, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aircraft leasing and other emerging segments of the aviation value chain.
A key focus will be how government can maximise returns from aviation without imposing excessive financial burdens that could weaken operators, discourage investment, increase airfares or limit connectivity.
The Chairman of LAAC, Suleiman Idris, said the 30th edition of the conference represents an important milestone for the association and provides an opportunity for the aviation media to facilitate constructive dialogue on issues critical to the future of the industry.
Idris said the media has a responsibility not only to report developments in the sector but also to create platforms where policymakers and industry stakeholders can engage in meaningful discussions aimed at finding sustainable solutions to persistent challenges.
“The aviation industry cannot grow sustainably if the operators are overburdened, just as government cannot abandon its legitimate responsibility to generate revenue.
“What is required is a balanced and sustainable framework that allows government to earn revenue while giving aviation businesses sufficient room to grow, invest and remain competitive”, he said.
The Chairman of the conference committee, Wole Shadare, said the forum would seek to move the conversation beyond identifying problems to developing practical recommendations that could support policy formulation and implementation.
Shadare said the conference would also provide an opportunity to reflect on developments in Nigeria’s aviation industry over the past three decades and examine the role of aviation correspondents in promoting accountability, transparency and informed public discourse.
According to him, the 30th conference offers an important opportunity to assess how the industry has evolved, the challenges that have persisted and the reforms required to position aviation as a stronger contributor to national economic development.
LAAC said it remained committed to using its annual conference as a platform for bringing policymakers, regulators, operators and other stakeholders together to deliberate on critical issues affecting the industry and proffer solutions in the national interest.
The association expressed optimism that the 30th Annual Conference would produce practical recommendations capable of contributing to a more competitive, financially sustainable and resilient Nigerian aviation industry.