LAAC Conference Sets Stage for Debate on Government Revenue Demands, Aviation Growth
The 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) is expected to provide a major platform for stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation industry to deliberate on the delicate balance between the Federal Government’s revenue demands and the need to sustain the growth, viability and competitiveness of the sector.
The landmark conference, scheduled to hold on September 10, 2026, in Lagos, will have as its theme: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth.”
The 30th edition of the annual conference is expected to attract major players across the aviation value chain, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), government officials, regulators, airline operators, airport managers, financial institutions, investors, aviation professionals, labour unions and other industry stakeholders.
A statement by the conference committee explained that the choice of the theme was informed by increasing fiscal pressures on aviation businesses and the need to ensure that government revenue policies do not inadvertently undermine the ability of airlines and other operators to remain financially viable.
The committee noted that the Nigerian aviation industry was undergoing significant reforms and infrastructure development, making it necessary for stakeholders to examine policies capable of supporting both government revenue generation and sustainable sectoral growth.
According to the statement, “At a time when the Nigerian aviation sector is undergoing significant reforms and infrastructure development, stakeholders believe that achieving a sustainable industry requires a careful balance between revenue generation by government and the creation of an enabling environment for investment, business growth and consumer affordability.”
The conference will examine some of the major challenges confronting the industry, including multiple charges imposed on airlines and other operators, the high cost of aviation fuel, access to foreign exchange, aircraft acquisition and maintenance, airport infrastructure and regulatory effectiveness.
Participants are also expected to discuss the broader contribution of aviation to Nigeria’s economy and explore ways of ensuring that policies designed to generate revenue do not place excessive financial burdens on operators, discourage investment or ultimately lead to higher airfares and reduced connectivity.
A major focus of the discussions will be how government can maximise revenue from the aviation sector while creating sufficient room for businesses to grow and remain competitive.
The conference will equally explore opportunities for expanding Nigeria’s aviation revenue base through increased passenger traffic, cargo development, tourism, airport commercialisation, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, aircraft leasing and other emerging segments of the aviation value chain.
Chairman of LAAC, Mr Suleiman Idris, described the 30th anniversary conference as an important milestone for the association and an opportunity for aviation journalists to facilitate constructive engagement on issues critical to the future of the sector.
He said the media had a responsibility beyond reporting developments in aviation, adding that it must also provide platforms through which policymakers and industry stakeholders could engage in meaningful discussions and develop sustainable solutions to persistent challenges.
According to Idris, “The aviation industry cannot grow sustainably if the operators are overburdened, just as government cannot abandon its legitimate responsibility to generate revenue. What is required is a balanced and sustainable framework that allows government to earn revenue while giving aviation businesses sufficient room to grow, invest and remain competitive.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the Conference Committee, Mr Wole Shadare, said the forum would seek to move discussions beyond merely identifying challenges towards developing practical recommendations capable of supporting policy formulation and implementation.
Shadare added that the conference would provide an opportunity to reflect on developments in Nigeria’s aviation industry over the past three decades and the role aviation correspondents have played in promoting accountability, transparency and informed public discourse.
LAAC reiterated its commitment to using its annual conference as a platform for bringing together policymakers, regulators, operators and other stakeholders to discuss critical issues affecting the aviation industry and proffer solutions in the national interest.
The association expressed optimism that the 30th Annual Conference would generate robust recommendations capable of contributing to the development of a more competitive, financially sustainable and resilient Nigerian aviation industry.
