Nigeria's aviation industry remained largely unwelcoming to tourists throughout 2025, achieving only marginal growth despite ongoing policy reforms and significant untapped potential. This critical assessment comes from a leading industry expert, highlighting a continued failure to leverage air travel for economic and tourism development.
Expert Laments Missed Opportunities for Tourism
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Olusoji Amusan, the former President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), delivered a sobering verdict on the sector's performance. Amusan, who also previously served as Lufthansa German Airlines Manager in Nigeria, stated that the industry failed to make meaningful progress in positioning air transport as a catalyst for tourism and broader economic growth.
He expressed regret that Nigeria continues to struggle with creating a welcoming aviation ecosystem for both domestic and international tourists. This failure persists even though the country is rich in cultural, ecological, and business travel attractions. Amusan emphasized that tourism thrives on ease of access, affordability, and positive travel experiences—elements he finds largely absent from Nigeria's current air transport system.
"We have not done what we ought to do. We didn't achieve much in the aviation sector in 2025, though there were a few gains. In terms of growth and making our aviation tourist-friendly, we did not achieve much," Amusan stated.
Criticism of National Support for Indigenous Carriers
A significant part of Amusan's critique focused on what he described as weak national backing for homegrown airlines. He pointed directly to the experience of Air Peace, Nigeria's largest carrier operating on international routes, as a prime example.
"Nigerians are not nationalistic; rather, we preoccupy ourselves with what we can gain only from the system. Look at Air Peace for instance, which is on international routes. How many Nigerians are supporting the airline?" he questioned.
He also referenced lingering policy setbacks from previous administrations, arguing that systemic challenges continue to undermine investor confidence and hinder sectoral growth. He alluded to the tenure of former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, as a period that negatively impacted the sector.
A Glimmer of Hope in Regulatory Reforms
Despite the strong criticism, Amusan acknowledged that the industry did record mild growth in 2025. He clarified, however, that this growth was driven more by regulatory and legal reforms rather than operational expansion or improved tourist appeal.
He singled out the sustained implementation of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment as one of the year's most significant achievements. Amusan credited the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for advancing this process. He noted that this legal framework has begun to restore confidence among foreign aircraft lessors and financiers, which is crucial for fleet modernization.
However, Amusan issued a stern warning. He stated that without deliberate and concerted efforts to make airports, airlines, and immigration processes more tourism-friendly, the benefits of these regulatory reforms will not translate into increased passenger traffic or a boost in inbound tourism. The sector, in his view, remains at a crossroads where policy must directly connect to passenger experience to unlock its true potential.
