MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / NEWS
Nigeria’s aviation sector could lose jobs, investments and business opportunities to emerging foreign hubs if the Federal Government does not give the industry stronger strategic attention.
Akure —
Nigeria’s aviation sector could lose jobs, investments and business opportunities to emerging foreign hubs if the Federal Government does not give the industry stronger strategic attention.Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, raised the warning on October 6, 2026, during the airline’s 67th anniversary celebration in Lagos.
Sanusi said Nigeria could face a serious competitive challenge as neighbouring countries develop modern airports and maintenance facilities designed to attract passengers, airlines and aviation-related businesses. He urged the government to respond quickly and position aviation as a major part of the country’s economic development strategy.
According to him, a new mega-airport and major maintenance facility are emerging just across Nigeria’s border, only a few minutes’ flight from Lagos. He said the infrastructure was being deliberately positioned to serve the Nigerian market, making the development a direct competitive concern for the country’s aviation industry.
Therefore, Sanusi called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo to give aviation a clear place in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda. He argued that the sector deserves the same deliberate attention given to roads, rail and power.
Aviation is not simply a mode of transport, Sanusi said, stressing its wider economic importance. In his view, a strong aviation industry can support tourism, trade, employment, foreign investment and economic growth while helping Nigeria retain more aviation-related activities within its borders.
He warned that failure to act could leave Nigerian airports underused and local maintenance facilities with fewer customers. More importantly, he said jobs and investment could gradually move across the border as foreign hubs attract Nigerian passengers, airlines and businesses.
The warning comes at a time when countries across Africa and the Gulf are investing heavily in aviation infrastructure. These markets have increasingly used airports, airlines and maintenance facilities as tools for economic expansion. As a result, Nigeria faces growing no pressure to make its aviation sector more competitive.
Sanusi pointed to the experience of several countries where aviation has become an important driver of development. He said governments that deliberately support the sector can create jobs, improve tourism, attract capital and strengthen international connections. Nigeria, he argued, should pursue a similar long-term approach.
At the same time, the warning highlights the importance of keeping aviation spending within Nigeria. When local airlines use domestic maintenance facilities, they can create technical jobs and support related businesses. However, when those services move abroad, Nigeria may lose both revenue and opportunities to develop specialised skills.
Aero Contractors itself provides an example of what local aviation investment can achieve. Sanusi said the airline has developed from a traditional carrier into an integrated aviation company offering scheduled passenger services, charter and rotary-wing operations, MRO services and pilot training.
Its MRO facility currently serves 16 carriers in Nigeria, West and Central Africa and beyond, according to the airline. This means the facility does more than support Aero Contractors. It also provides technical services that can keep aviation spending within the region and create opportunities for skilled Nigerian workers.
The airline’s anniversary also provided an opportunity to highlight the wider role of government support. At the anniversary, Minister Festus Keyamo urged indigenous airlines to emulate Aero Contractors and pledged continued government support for aviation growth and economic development.
However, industry growth will require more than government statements. Airlines need reliable infrastructure, predictable policies, access to financing and a business environment that encourages long-term investment. Investors also need confidence that aviation projects can operate profitably and compete effectively with facilities in other countries.
This concern is especially important because Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest aviation markets. Its large population creates substantial demand for passenger travel, cargo services, aircraft maintenance and related businesses. If neighbouring countries successfully attract this demand, Nigeria could lose economic value that its own market could generate.
Consequently, the government may need to focus on policies that strengthen local airlines while improving the wider aviation ecosystem. Better airport infrastructure, efficient regulation, competitive financing and stronger technical capacity could help Nigerian operators retain more business.
Safety must also remain central to this strategy. The sector is facing renewed attention after a Nigerian military aircraft crash in Ondo State on October 5, which killed 32 people, according to reports. Although the incident involved a military aircraft rather than a commercial airline, it has reinforced public attention on aviation safety and oversight.
For investors, safety standards and regulatory credibility are essential. Therefore, Nigeria must continue strengthening oversight while creating conditions that allow responsible aviation businesses to expand. A competitive sector cannot grow sustainably without public confidence in its safety and reliability.
Sanusi’s warning is ultimately about competition as much as infrastructure. Foreign aviation hubs do not need to capture Nigeria’s entire market to create an impact. Even a gradual shift of passengers, aircraft maintenance, cargo and related services could reduce opportunities for Nigerian companies.
That is why the call for a renewed aviation strategy carries broader economic implications. If Nigeria keeps investing in its airports, airlines and technical facilities, it can retain more aviation spending, create skilled jobs and attract new capital. Conversely, delayed action could allow neighbouring markets to capture opportunities created by Nigerian demand.
For Aero Contractors, the anniversary message also reflects its determination to remain part of that future. The airline has survived financial and operational difficulties and continues to position itself as an indigenous aviation company with wider technical capabilities.
Ultimately, Nigeria has a large aviation market, but market size alone will not guarantee investment. The country must provide the infrastructure, policies and confidence needed to keep businesses competitive. As Sanusi warned, without a deliberate strategy, aviation jobs and investment could quietly move across the border.
The Federal Government therefore faces a choice: strengthen Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem now or risk watching neighbouring hubs capture opportunities that could have supported local airlines, workers and businesses. For an industry with strong links to tourism, trade, employment and investment, the cost of losing that competition could extend far beyond the airport.
