Nigeria’s aviation history began in the early 20th century, with the first aerodrome built in Kano in 1920, and later in Lagos. In 1935, Lagos International Airport (now Murtala Muhammed International Airport) opened, serving as a stopover for European flights. The first commercial flight to Nigeria arrived in 1925, mainly catering to colonial officials and expatriates. Following independence, the Nigerian government invested in airport development to meet the needs of the growing population, with Murtala Muhammed Airport becoming the main international hub.
In the 1970s and 1980s, airports in cities like Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu were expanded to accommodate larger planes and more passengers. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nigeria worked to modernize its airports, updating terminals, runways, and air traffic systems. The government explored privatizing some airport services to improve efficiency as air travel grew.
Today, Nigeria has 27 international and domestic airports, mainly managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Kano serve as key travel hubs, while smaller regional airports connect other parts of the country. Despite challenges like poor infrastructure and security, efforts to modernize airports, including new terminals and upgrades, show promise for Nigeria’s aviation future.