…as airlines decry rising pilferage, poor infrastructure at Nigerian airports
The nation’s busiest gateway, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, is coming under renewed scrutiny as aviation stakeholders raise alarm over its growing reputation as one of the least traveller-friendly airports in the region.
At a time when Nigeria seeks to position itself as West Africa’s aviation hub, pilots and aircraft owners said the Lagos airport remains dogged by negative perceptions, operational inefficiencies, and mounting safety concerns.
At the maiden JustAlive Communications Limited Transport Summit in Lagos, themed “Nigeria’s Transport Infrastructure: Innovation for a Sustainable Future”, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN) and other industry leaders painted a sobering picture of an airport system struggling to inspire confidence—both among travellers and airlines. While some blamed poor perception and weak airline structures, others pointed to decaying infrastructure, policy inconsistency, and a worrying rise in pilferage incidents that continue to erode trust in Nigeria’s airports.
Dr. Nwuba, President of AOPAN, said the real challenge facing Lagos airport and other Nigerian gateways is not just infrastructure but perception and airline design. According to him, regional travellers increasingly avoid transiting through Lagos because of a long-standing belief that Nigeria’s airports are unsafe, chaotic, and difficult to navigate.
“Travellers’ reluctance to transit through Nigerian airports has little to do with the terminals themselves”, Nwuba explained. “Even if we had only a shed and the right airline structure, people would still come.
“The real issue is that our airlines haven’t built proper transit models. You want to go to Freetown, for instance, and instead of connecting through Lagos, the airline routes you through Accra. That says a lot”.
Nwuba argued that until Nigerian airlines and airport authorities confront the trust deficit surrounding safety and service quality, attempts to attract more regional traffic will remain futile.
“Even our neighbours in Benin Republic won’t fly through Lagos because of the perception that Nigeria is unsafe”, he said. “Lagos airport is seen as a hostile environment where people risk being victims of crime. Until that perception changes, even the most beautiful terminal won’t solve the problem.”
While AOPAN focused on perception and planning, airline operators pointed to deeper structural and operational flaws. Representing the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, at the Summit, the airline’s Head of Sales, Mr. Benedict Oluwafemi, lamented that outdated facilities, inconsistent power supply, and rising theft at airports have compounded the industry’s struggles.
“Our airport facilities need serious upgrades”, Oluwafemi said. “Processing times are long, structures are outdated, and in the past few months, pilferage incidents have increased. These issues are making operations more difficult and costly for airlines already battling economic headwinds”.
He noted that several airlines have reported theft from parked aircraft and passengers’ checked luggage, incidents that have become more frequent in recent months.
“We can’t continue to run a system where passengers fear losing their belongings or where airlines have to spend extra just to secure their equipment”, he warned. “The current economic climate is tough enough, and these operational inefficiencies are squeezing us even more”.
Oluwafemi also called for consistent government policies and improved collaboration between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), airlines, and security agencies to create safer, more reliable airport environments.
“The policies change too often, and that uncertainty makes planning difficult”, he added. “If we want to make Nigeria an aviation hub, we must start by fixing the fundamentals—safety, efficiency, and perception”.