By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Government has launched a strong appeal to the private sector to invest heavily across Nigeria’s aviation industry, assuring them of full support and protection for their investments. This call comes as Lagos State confirms a massive new infrastructure project: the approval to build the Lekki International Airport.
Speaking at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference (FNAC2025) in Lagos, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo urged investors to embrace the long-term benefits of Nigeria’s rapidly evolving aviation landscape, stressing that the enabling environment is strengthening daily.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed that the state government has secured approval to build the new Lekki International Airport, which is projected to have an annual capacity of five million passengers.
The Governor disclosed that 3,800 hectares of land have been earmarked for the airport within the Lekki Free Zone corridor, strategically located just five kilometers from the Dangote Refinery. The new facility will be capable of handling the world’s biggest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, and is intended to complement the Murtala Muhammed International Airport while supporting the industrial boom in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Keyamo, represented by Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, detailed several lucrative Public Private Partnership (PPP) opportunities for investors, leveraging the ‘Renewed Hope’ funding drive:
- Airport Infrastructure Modernization: Partnerships are sought for rehabilitating runways, expanding aprons, and developing new cargo complexes across FAAN airports to guarantee investor returns.
- World-Class MRO Hub: FAAN aims to facilitate a regional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centre to serve West and Central Africa, retaining capital and creating high-skill jobs—a sector where Africa loses billions yearly to offshore maintenance.
- Aviation Leasing Companies: Keyamo noted the improved legal standing for aviation financing, making the environment primed for indigenous leasing firms to support airline fleet modernization.
- Cargo and Logistics Hubs: Dedicated cargo and logistics hubs at key airports will unlock agro-exports, reduce spoilage, and integrate Nigerian producers into global value chains.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, echoed the call, highlighting that the gap between current capacity and projected demand presents vast opportunities in terminal modernization and airport cities. She also made a direct appeal to aviation unions to collaborate, asserting that private investment is not a replacement but a catalyst for workforce growth and better jobs.