Cargo Airports In Nigeria: How Many Are There?

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Of these airports, only one is a dedicated cargo airport: the Anambra International Cargo Airport. However, several other airports, such as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, have dedicated cargo terminals.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Five of these are international airports, with another four being military airports. There is also one state-owned airport in Akwa Ibom State, and one private-public partnership airport.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (IATA: LOS, ICAO: DNMM) is located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the entire state. The airport was originally built during World War II and was initially known as Lagos Airport. It was renamed after the military head of state, Murtala Muhammed, in 1976, following his assassination in a failed coup attempt. The airport has an international and a domestic terminal, located about one kilometre from each other, which share the same runways.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport is the busiest airport in Nigeria in terms of air cargo traffic. In 2018, the airport handled just over 129 million kilograms of cargo. The airport also served 6,273,545 passengers in 2010. The airport has the longest runway in the country, measuring 3900 metres (12,795 feet), and it operates 27 airlines and serves 43 destinations.

In 2012, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved a loan of N106 billion from the Exim Bank of China to construct five new international terminals, including a passenger terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Construction began in late 2013, and the new terminal was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari on 22 March 2022. The new terminal has the capacity to process 14 million passengers annually.

Anambra International Cargo Airport, Umueri

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Of these airports, nine are international airports. One of these is the Anambra International Cargo Airport, Umueri, located in Umuleri, Anambra State, at Ivite-Umueri.

The airport is a new addition to the list of international airports in Nigeria, having begun commercial operations on December 7, 2021. In its first month of service, the airport served 3,865 passengers across 142 flights.

The Anambra International Cargo Airport, Umueri, was constructed by Governor Willy Obiano's administration, following land acquisition by the Peter Obi Administration. The airport is an ongoing project, with Governor Obiano requesting an additional N10 billion in the 2022 budget for its completion.

The airport serves both cargo and passenger functions, and its development is an important step in the state's transportation infrastructure.

Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Five of these are international airports, with another under construction in Anambra State. There are also several airstrips and airfields scattered across the country, mainly built by the Nigerian Air Force and multinational oil companies.

One of the five international airports in Nigeria is Akanu Ibiam International Airport, also known as Enugu Airport. The airport is named after Akanu Ibiam (1906-1995), a physician and statesman from Afikpo in Ebonyi State.

Akanu Ibiam International Airport serves Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, and other nearby cities, including Abakaliki, Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Afikpo, Okigwe, Nsukka, Ugep, Orlu, Idah, Otukpo, and Ogoja. Enugu is known as the 'coal city', a name that dates back to its past as the centre of a thriving coal mining industry. The airport is located in Emene, Enugu's primary industrial hub, and is home to the Nigerian Air Force Base, which includes the Ground Training Command, 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group, 541 Comms Group, 553 Base Services Group, and the International Helicopter Flying School.

The airport underwent a major renovation and expansion project, which was carried out in multiple phases. The first phase began on February 10, 2010, and the airport reopened on December 16, 2010. The second and third phases of construction were completed after this reopening, with the airport being prepared for its new status as an international airport.

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Five of these are international airports, with another four being state-owned or private-public partnership airports.

One of the five international airports is the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, located in the capital city of Kano State, Kano. The airport is named after the 20th-century politician Aminu Kano and is the oldest in Nigeria, with operations commencing in 1936.

Before Nigeria gained independence, the airport was a Royal Air Force station. It has an international and a domestic terminal, with the former including a small VIP lounge for business class passengers. The domestic terminal is located on the south side of the airport and is currently used by IRS Airlines. Construction of a new domestic terminal began at the turn of the century, but was abandoned and then resumed, with the new terminal finally completed in November 2009 and commissioned in May 2011.

The airport serves both civilian and military flights. Runway 06/24 is primarily for civilian flights, while runway 05/23 is mostly for the Nigerian Air Force base. The terminal facilities are situated between the two runways, with the main terminal housing the control tower. The airport is the main hub serving northern Nigeria and, in 2009, it handled 323,482 passengers. Many of the international flights cater to the large Sudanese community in Kano, as well as Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.

In the first few decades of operation, the airport was an important refuelling stop for long-haul flights between Europe and Africa. However, with advancements in aircraft technology, refuelling stops became less necessary, and the decline of the Kano economy in the late 20th century led to many international airlines discontinuing their services to the airport.

The airport has been the site of several aviation disasters. In 1956, a BOAC four-engine Canadair C-4 Argonaut airliner crashed on departure, killing 32 of the 45 passengers and crew. In 1973, an Alia Boeing 707-320C crashed while attempting to land in high winds, resulting in 176 fatalities out of 202 passengers and crew, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in Nigerian history. In 2002, an EAS Airlines Flight 4226 jet crashed upon takeoff, killing 73 passengers and crew, as well as a further 30 people on the ground.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). There are nine international airports in the country, one of which is the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is the main airport serving Nigeria's capital city, Abuja. It is located about 20 kilometres west of Abuja and has an international and a domestic terminal that share a single runway. The airport is named after Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first president.

The airport was built in the early 2000s and opened in 2002. It is the second busiest airport in the country, serving about 3 million passengers annually. In 2017, the airport was closed for six weeks to enable repairs on its runway, which was said to be dysfunctional. The Nigerian government approved funding for the Kaduna Airport terminal as an alternative for Abuja Airport during this period. The airport reopened on April 18, 2017, after the completion of the runway repairs.

On December 20, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a new terminal building. The new terminal is designed to process up to 15 million passengers annually. The airport also has a private jet wing that serves businesses, diplomats, and politicians. A new terminal for private jet operations, the General Aviation Terminal, is currently in the works.

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