There are about 26 airports in Nigeria offering both local and international flight. This post is all about airports in Nigeria both local and international. Nigeria is the most populated black nation on Earth with over one hundred and eighty million people. One hundred and eighty million people that need to love from one destination too another. Nigeria boasts of so many Airports and there are about twenty-seven major Airports in Nigeria scattered within the thirty-six states of the federation. However, we will be focusing on the top Airports in Nigeria based on their capacity, location, schedules and their facilities.
The Nigerian Airports are majorly operated and managed by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). FAAN is an arm of the government with the key responsibility of managing, maintaining and coordinating the processes at the Nigerian airports. There are two major classifications of Airports in Nigeria which includes:
- the International Airports in Nigeria: These are airports that handle international flights, that is flights from one country to another.
- Domestic Airports In Nigeria: These airports only focus on local flights, that is flights within the same country.
About FAAN
FAAN is the acronym for the federal airport authority of Nigeria and it is the body with the statutory role of managing and maintaining the Nigerian airports. It was inaugurated and established in 1976 as the Nigerian Airport Authority (NAA). It was however renamed in 1995 as Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
Aside from these two, Nigeria also has numerous airfields and airstrips dispersed all over the thirty-six states of the federation which are meant for either private use or military exercises.
The top Airports in Nigeria are all international airports. They offer customs and immigration facilities for passengers travelling between countries. They are larger and own longer runways and other facilities to accommodate heavier aircraft used for international travel. International airports in Nigeria also provide domestic flight services. Listed below are the top Airports in Nigeria.
Also Read: List of Tourist Destinations in Nigeria
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS IN NIGERIA
These are the top International airports in Nigeria.
MURTALA MOHAMMED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Murtala Mohammed International Airport is the busiest airport in Nigeria. It was originally named Lagos International Airport, it was built in during the second world war and it was officially opened on 15th March 1979. It is located at Ikeja, which is the capital city of Lagos State, Nigeria. It was named after the former Nigerian military head of state, General Murtala Mohammed who was murdered in cold blood. It is one of the oldest and most popular Airports in Nigeria. It has both the passenger and cargo airlines touring the world from this destination. This Airport transports over 50 million people yearly accounting for over 50 [per cent of air transportation in Nigeria. The Airport is opened 24 hours a day and operate flights to different destinations across the world. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is also the largest in Nigeria and West Africa with two runways measuring 3,900 and 2,743 metres. The Murtala International Airport also has a dedicated international terminal and a domestic terminal.
The list of major airlines that comes to this airport includes Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Air France, British Airways, Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Gonos Airlines, Arik Air, Azman Air, Med-View Airline, Air Peace, Dana Air and Ibom Air.
NNAMDI AZIKWE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The second position on the list of top Airports in Nigeria is The Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja is one of the most beautiful airports in Nigeria. It is located in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria Abuja. It is named after Nigeria’s first President Nnamdi Azikwe. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has its head office in the airport grounds. The airport was built in the year 2000 and opened in 2002. The Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) says its terminal building can process up to 15 million passengers annually. The Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport is the second busiest airport in Nigeria. It has two runways both measuring about 3609 each.
The list of airlines includes; Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Africa World Airlines, Air France, ASKY Airlines, Azman Air, Lufthansa, RwandAir, Overland Airways and so on.
MALLAM AMINU KANO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is located in the old city of Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. It is named after a Nigerian Politician Aminu Kano. The Mallam Amina Kano International Airport Kano was a Royal Air Force military base which served as a point of arrival and departure of the Royal Airforce before the Nigerian independence. It received its international status in 1950 making it the first Airport in Nigeria. The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is one of the major airports in the Northern part of Nigeria. Mallam Aminu International Airport kano serves as an important role in Muslim pilgrimage processes.
Airlines include; Kabo Air, Saudia, Sudan Airways, Flynas, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Peace and so on.
PORT HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Port Harcourt International Airport is located in Omagwa in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State. The Port Harcourt International Airport was constructed in 1950 which serves as a major airport in the oil-rich Niger delta. The Port Harcourt International Airport is the third busiest airport in Nigeria according to the statics from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). It offers both domestic and international flights. The airport only has one terminal for both domestic and international flights.
Major airlines include; Aero Contractors, Dana Air, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines.
AKANU IBIAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Akanu Ibiam International Airport is located in the coal city Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, Nigeria. It is the major airport in the Southeastern part of Nigeria as it serves nearby cities, such as Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Nsukka and major states and communities within and outside Enugu. The Akanu Ibiam International Airport was named after Akanu Ibiam, a medical doctor and statesman from Afikpo, Ebonyi State. The Airport plays a major role in international trades within the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.
Airlines include; Air Peace, Arik Air, Med-view Airline, Ethiopian Airlines and Aero Contractors.
Local Airports In Nigeria
Most Airports in Nigeria bears the word International however, they do not operate international flights.
There is the Margaret Ekpo International Airport (Calabar Airport), Maiduguri International Airport (Maiduguri Airport), Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport (Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport), Gombe Lawanti International Airport (Gombe State), and the proposed Asaba International Airport in Asaba, Delta State. These airports do not have the sophistication of the first four listed international airports in the country.
Be aware that other Nigerian Airports carry the tag ‘International’ which operate major international destinations within Nigeria however, these are the top airports in Nigeria. They are all international because they offer both international flights as well as local flights.
Benin Airport
It is located in Benin City, Edo State. The Benin Airport is also one of the oldest airports in Nigeria, It was constructed in the year 1956.
Ilorin Airport
The Ilorin Airport is also another airport in Nigeria, It was commissioned on February 16, 1978. It is located at Fili area of Ilorin.
Sokoto Airport
Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto was commissioned on February 17, 1982, located at South-south West of Sokoto.
Yola Airport
The Airport is located at Jimeta, about 8km Northwest of Yola.
Ibadan Airport
Commissioned in June 1982, Ibadan Airport is located at Alakia, which is between Adegbaiji community and Iwo Road.
Kaduna Airport
Kaduna Airport is located about 12km from Kaduna Metropolis. The nearest community to the Airport is Isira Community.
Kastina Airport
Katsina Airport commenced operation on the 22nd December 1991. It is located southwest of Katsina at and about 4km from the metropolis. The nearest towns and distances to the airport are Modoju 2KM, Makeva 3KM, and Kayanki 5KM.
Maiduguri Airport
The Airport serves as both domestic and international operations during Hajj operations. The Airport is located in Maiduguri and it is also surrounded by Bulunkutu, Shiwari, Shelmari and Muronti communities.
Makurdi Airport
Makurdi Airport commenced operation in 1983. The Airport is located at Fili along Makurdi Gboko road.
Minna Airport
Minna Airport was commissioned on 20th June 1990 by the former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. The Airport is located in Maikunkele Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.
Akure Airport
Akure Airport was commissioned on 8th February 1986 as a Domestic Airport.
Here is a list of all the airports in Nigeria
Akure Airport Medium airport, Akure
Akwa Ibom International Airport, Large airport Uyo
Asaba International Airport, Asaba
Benin Airport, Benin
Gombe Lawanti International Airport, Gombe
Gusau Airport Gusau
Ibadan Airport, Ibadan
Ilorin International Airport, Ilorin
Kaduna Airport Medium, Kaduna
Maiduguri International Airport, Maiduguri
Makurdi Airport, Makurdi
Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar
Minna Airport, Minna
Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt
Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto
Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi
Warri Airport, Warri
Yakubu Gowon Airport Jos
Yola Airport Yola
Zaria Airport Zaria
Great content! Super high-quality! Keep it up! 🙂
It’s very well documented. It was helpful. Thank you.
Anambra Airport at Umueri, Anambra State, Nigeria
We need more international airports in the South East Region Of Nigeria