…..explains Nigeria’s proactive stance on african air connectivity
During the ongoing AFI Aviation Week at the Symposium’s Session 5, with the theme, “Optimizing Air Transport Connectivity for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa,” Nigeria’s Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, delivered a compelling insight into the continent’s delicate balancing act between protecting national carriers and embracing regional air liberalization.
At the panel discussion at the 5-day event taking place in Zimbabwe, Capt. Najomo also shed light on Nigeria’s strategic approach to aviation infrastructure and its alignment with broader continental goals.
He acknowledged that while liberalization promises to unlock vast economic and connectivity benefits for African states, it remains entangled with deep-rooted challenges, especially from political and economic fronts.
At the core of these difficulties lies the emotional and strategic attachment many governments have to their national airlines, often seen as symbols of sovereignty and pride.
This national sentiment tends to conflict with the realities of market-driven liberalization, as states fear losing control over strategic air routes and exposing their carriers to stiff competition.
Despite being a signatory to the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), many African countries, Capt. Najomo noted, are hesitant in fully implementing these agreements.
The reluctance, is often driven by concerns over economic vulnerability and the perceived threat to national carriers’ market dominance.
Compounding these hesitations is the absence of robust economic regulatory frameworks in several states, along with the lack of autonomous civil aviation authorities. Without independent regulators, it becomes difficult to implement liberal policies in line with global standards.
Visa restrictions also hamper the promise of liberalized air transport. According to Capt Najomo, strict visa regimes continue to obstruct the free movement of people, thereby undermining the interconnectedness that liberalization is meant to foster.
He pointed to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the proposed African passport as instrumental in reversing this trend.
Policy disconnection among aviation, tourism, and trade sectors further dilutes the effectiveness of liberalization efforts, often resulting in sub-optimal service quality, high ticket costs, and limited consumer choice.
Turning to Nigeria’s approach, Nigeria’s DGCA presented a robust case study of how the government is aligning aviation infrastructure investment with national development goals and regional cooperation.
Aviation has been positioned as a strategic driver of economic growth and connectivity. Through the support of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Nigeria is actively investing in both airport infrastructure and air navigation services.
Key airports across the country, including those in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu, are undergoing major terminal upgrades and expansion projects.
The government has also launched a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession program to improve efficiency, infrastructure, and service delivery at major international airports.
Furthermore, the development of cargo terminals and integration with Special Economic Zones (SEZs) forms a central part of Nigeria’s strategy to strengthen exports and logistics. In tandem, ambitious aerotropolis projects are underway to transform key airports into economic hubs that drive tourism, trade, and commerce.
From a safety and operations standpoint, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is modernizing its air traffic systems by deploying satellite, based navigation and upgrading radar and communication systems.
These enhancements are critical to improving safety compliance and managing regional air traffic more effectively.
Nigeria’s commitment to SAATM has also been reaffirmed through its signing of Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) and multilateral accords in line with the Yamoussoukro Decision.
The country has embraced unrestricted first to fifth freedom traffic rights for passengers and full liberalization for cargo with several SAATM-participating countries.
A landmark achievement for Nigeria came in 2024 with the signing of the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) under the domesticated Cape Town Convention.
This move improved Nigeria’s compliance score from 70.5% to 75.5%, removed the country from the Aviation Working Group’s watchlist, and facilitated easier access to leased aircraft for Nigerian carriers, bolstering their regional operational capacity and investor confidence.
Captain Najomo also highlighted the government’s strategic support for domestic airlines through policies such as the Fly Nigeria Act, which mandates government-sponsored air travel to be routed through Nigerian carriers. This initiative not only strengthens local operators but also enhances regional aviation sustainability.
Nigeria remains open to regional airline partnerships. According to Najomo, such collaboration holds immense potential for shared growth across the sub-region. Human capital development in aviation remains a key priority, ensuring that the industry is equipped with the expertise needed to sustain long-term progress.
As Africa continues its journey toward a more connected and economically integrated airspace, Nigeria’s model, anchored in infrastructure modernization, regulatory reform, and regional cooperation, provides a tangible blueprint for sustainable development through aviation.
