The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, has called for strategic support to elevate two to three Nigerian airlines into national flag carriers, a move she says will “boost passenger and cargo traffic while unlocking greater value in the aviation supply chain.”
Speaking at the Q1 Business Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Mrs. Kuku stressed the need to reposition Nigeria’s aviation sector for global competitiveness.
“We must create an enabling environment for select Nigerian airlines to thrive as flag carriers. This will not only enhance connectivity but also strengthen our cargo and passenger operations,” she said.
Delivering the keynote address themed “Building MMIA into a Safe & Economically Viable Hub”, the FAAN boss outlined several infrastructure upgrades at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA):
Monorail Project: High-level talks underway to develop a monorail system for seamless terminal connectivity, Airfield Lighting: Runways 18L/36R and key taxiways to be upgraded to Category II LED standards, Advanced Systems: Deployment of the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS).
Others include Access Control: Implementation of modern access control systems to enhance security; Apron Expansion: Relocation of two hangars to free up space for wide-body aircraft operations; Avio Bridges: Installation of multiple passengers boarding bridges to enable simultaneous aircraft turnaround; Cargo Facilities: Upgrading cargo terminals and integrating cold-chain logistics systems to support exports.
Mrs. Kuku also emphasized Nigeria’s ambition to become a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub, noting that “positioning Nigeria as a regional MRO center will reduce dependence on foreign facilities and create jobs locally.”
Industry stakeholders at the event welcomed FAAN’s roadmap, describing it as “a bold step toward transforming MMIA into a world-class hub.”
