Aviation leaders seek technology, safety reforms to make Nigeria

Nigeria’s aviation industry needs a fundamental shift from maintaining legacy infrastructure to building a digitally driven, safer and economically sustainable aviation system capable of competing for regional and international traffic, aviation professionals and labour leaders have said.

As Nigeria marks its independence anniversary, the Aeronautical Information Management Association of Nigeria (AIMAN), National Air Traffic Communicators Association of Nigeria (NACAN) and Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum (JATUF) have identified technology, safety oversight, infrastructure, skilled manpower and stronger airline cooperation as critical to the sector’s next phase of development.

President of AIMAN, Dr Ibrahim Audu, said Nigeria had made significant progress since independence, with 31 operational airports, nearly 40 Air Operator Certificate holders and about 28 foreign airlines currently operating into the country.

But he said the size of the existing aviation network would only translate into stronger economic value if the country modernised the systems supporting airspace management and safety.

Audu identified the transition from traditional Aeronautical Information Services to fully digital Aeronautical Information Management as an immediate priority, arguing that accurate and timely airspace information was essential to safer and more efficient flight operations.

He also called for stronger safety oversight, saying Nigeria should move beyond preparing periodically for International Civil Aviation Organisation audits towards a permanent safety culture driven by proactive risk identification, measurable performance and properly funded corrective action plans.

He urged the progressive deployment of modern airspace technology, including expanded Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast coverage, multilateration, Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications, Performance-Based Navigation and System-Wide Information Management-ready systems.

NACAN President and General Manager, Aeronautical Communications at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mohammed Rabiu Sani, similarly called for accelerated modernisation of Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management systems.

He identified Air Traffic Message Handling Systems, ADS-B, digital airport infrastructure and artificial intelligence-enabled aviation systems as key areas for investment.

According to Sani, technological upgrades must be accompanied by substantial investment in training, licensing and professional development to retain the skilled personnel required to operate an increasingly sophisticated aviation system.

He also called for upgrades to airports, runways, air traffic control systems, communications infrastructure, power supply and aircraft maintenance facilities.

Beyond infrastructure, he said the sector needed clearer regulation, stronger enforcement and improved financial efficiency, including new revenue sources and measures to reduce unnecessary operating costs.

He also called for policies that would support financially viable Nigerian airlines capable of expanding regional connectivity and competing effectively in the African market.

For JATUF, the development of a stronger domestic airline industry is equally important. Forum Secretary Hector Nnadi said the sector had recorded greater stability in industrial relations and operator activities but still required structural reforms.

He said a strong national carrier, whether government-backed or privately financed, could help Nigeria strengthen its position as an aviation hub in West Africa.

Nnadi also urged Nigerian airlines to develop code-sharing and integrated ticketing arrangements that would allow passengers to move more easily between carriers.

He compared the idea to banking, where customers can use a single ATM card across different banks, arguing that similar interoperability among airlines could improve passenger convenience, connectivity and the commercial efficiency of domestic operators.

The three aviation groups also stressed the importance of governance and accountability, with Sani calling for merit-based appointments and clear performance targets across the sector.

For Nigeria’s economy, the stakes are considerable. A more efficient aviation system can improve trade, tourism, business travel, cargo movement and regional connectivity while reducing the cost and time required to move people and goods.

The industry’s next challenge is therefore not simply increasing the number of airports or airlines. It is building an aviation ecosystem in which modern technology, safety, infrastructure, skilled professionals and financially sustainable airlines work together to make Nigeria a more competitive gateway to Africa.