"We Say No To New Airports in Nigeria" - Aviation Experts.

Former Assistant Manager, at the Former Lufthansa German Airlines Dr. David Olowo, has condemned the rush by state governments in Nigeria to establish new airports. The Aviation expert and the President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ART) called the move "good politics, but bad economics". 

According to the civil aviation industry 2023 reports, Nigeria currently has 20 functional airports including 5 International Airports, airstrips, and 23 active domestic airlines with 8 states currently without working airports. 

States without airports in Nigeria Include Ekiti State, Anambra State, Ogun State, Osun State, Abia State, Zamfara State, Eboyin State, and Yobe State. 

Nigeria also has 554 licensed pilots and over 900 well-trained engineers licensed to operate in the country, but the state of the domestic airports in Nigeria is below standard, not functioning to capacity and poorly maintained

From the list of airports that can really offend travelers rated by All Africa Lagos and Port Harcourt airports rank fifth and 3rd among the worst.

Buttressing his points, Dr. David Olowo made obvious that the current airdromes we have in Nigeria are not commercially effective, and the focus should be on resuscitating them not adding more that will eventually be neglected if the pattern of projects in politics in Nigeria is to be considered.

He explained that governments in Nigeria should stop making projects to impress during their administrations that will be abandoned later, and that there is a need for both short-term and long-term projects to be planned and enforced at least for 10 years and above. 

He further highlighted some burning concerns about the state of the industry, including  examples such as: 

1. The abandoned Ogun State Agro-cargo airport runway

2. Airports in the Southwestern part of the country operating below capacity, including Ibadan, and Ondo State.

3. The Muritala Mohammed Airport (MMA) Lagos which has been existing for over 40 years is still very poor in terms of facilities and passengers dread it in the evening period or during night flights.

4. Terrible airport roads and runways nationwide.

There is therefore a need to put better management policies in place, as noted by Dr. Olowo, Airline transportation should be made seamless not cumbersome. States with Neighbors without airports should also collaborate on road linkages to the airports and more hospitality facilities should be made available.

On airport security, Dr. Olowo also observed that the toll gates are too much and that one overwatch policy where agencies share data and real-time information is enough.

He concluded that if efforts are put into developing Hubs in the airports, making available self-check-in facilities and kiosks, air travel in Nigeria will be less of a hassle.