The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN) on Wednesday highlighted travellers’ reluctance to transit through Nigerian airports, attributing it not primarily to infrastructure but to negative perceptions and inefficient airline design.
Speaking at the JustAlive Communications Limited Maiden Summit in Lagos, themed “Nigeria’s Transport Infrastructure: Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” AOPAN President Dr. Alex Nwuba said that domestic airlines have not optimized their operations to enhance passenger experience.
He explained, “We blame the transit challenge on infrastructure, but that is not the fact. Infrastructure plays a very minimal role. Even if we had the perfect transit structure, passengers would not necessarily use it. The issue lies in how our airlines operate. For example, if you’re flying to Freetown, our airlines often route passengers through Ghana rather than aggregating multiple domestic and international markets efficiently.”
Nwuba further noted that poor international passenger experiences and safety perceptions discourage transits through Nigerian airports. “Our neighbours perceive Nigeria as a dangerous place. Lagos airport is not considered a friendly transit hub, and even the best infrastructure will not attract them if these perceptions persist,” he added.
Meanwhile, Captain Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, represented by Head of Sales Mr. Benedict Oluwafemi, acknowledged existing infrastructure gaps and rising operational challenges.
Oluwafemi lamented, “If you visit our airports, you would see that the infrastructure needs a lot of work. Passenger processing times need improvement, and facilities must be upgraded to enhance travel experiences. In recent months, we have also observed an increase in pilferage at the airports. Rising operational costs and an unfriendly business environment further complicate matters.”
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