Nigeria Records Growing Imbalance in Domestic, Int’l Air Traffic Trends
Nigeria’s aviation landscape in 2024 revealed a tale of two trajectories, with international travel witnessing growth while domestic passenger movements continued a troubling decline, according to newly released data from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The statistics highlight shifting patterns in air travel demand and underline structural imbalances in the sector.
FAAN’s comprehensive traffic report shows that a total of 12.54 million passengers passed through domestic terminals across Nigeria in 2024. This figure represents a 6.46 per cent drop compared with 13.5 million recorded in 2023, marking the lowest domestic passenger volume in three years.
Industry analysts attribute the slump to factors such as rising airfares, higher operational costs, naira devaluation, and unreliable flight schedules – all of which have made air travel less affordable and dependable for many Nigerians.
These pressures have eroded domestic demand, pushing some travellers back to road transport.
The domestic passenger distribution reveals a stark concentration in major hubs. Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal handled 4,134,211 passengers, while Abuja recorded 4,372,091, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of all domestic traffic.
Port Harcourt processed 1,026,060 passengers, Kano 514,460, and Enugu 493,510, followed closely by Owerri with 414,290 passengers.
In contrast, smaller regional airports recorded far more modest flows, with Jos handling 39,496, Minna 3,013, and Makurdi 8,182, reflecting uneven connectivity and limited utilisation of secondary airports.
In contrast, Nigeria’s international passenger movements rose 6.4 per cent to 4.33 million in 2024, up from 4.07 million the previous year, reflecting sustained demand for overseas travel and stronger global linkages.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, led the way with 3,006,102 passengers, followed by Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with 1,070,548, while Kano recorded 211,671.
Port Harcourt and Enugu airports processed 10,827 and 33,516 international passengers respectively.
The growth in international traffic aligns with broader African trends, as cross-border air travel continues to expand despite domestic challenges.
Air cargo figures for 2024 also underscored a continuing structural imbalance, albeit with encouraging signs.
Total air cargo throughput rose sharply to 159.4 million kilograms, surpassing 2023’s 135.1 million kilograms. Imports accounted for 107.7 million kilograms, while exports surged to 42.7 million kilograms, marking the strongest export performance in three years.
Lagos alone handled 116.7 million kilograms, more than the combined throughput of Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and other regional airports, highlighting the persistent concentration of air cargo in the South‑West.
Kano and Abuja recorded similar total cargo volumes of 14.2 million and 14.1 million kilograms respectively, but their export contributions diverged sharply, with Abuja achieving 2.8 million kilograms in exports – more than double Kano’s 1.2 million kilograms – reflecting better outbound coordination and market access from the capital.
The 2024 data paints a nuanced picture of Nigeria’s aviation sector. While international gateways continue to perform robustly, supporting economic connectivity and global integration, domestic air travel is contracting, threatening the viability of regional routes and smaller carriers.
Cargo volumes have recovered and exports are rising, but the flow remains heavily skewed towards Lagos, emphasising the need for investment in regional airport capacity, cold-chain infrastructure, and direct freighter services to balance the system.
