Exploring Nigeria's Domestic Airport Network: A Comprehensive Overview

Nigeria has a total of 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Of these, 9 are international airports, 1 is state-owned, 1 is a private-public partnership, and the rest are domestic airports. The country also has several runways and airfields, most of which are owned by the Nigerian military or oil companies.

Domestic airports in Nigeria

Nigeria has a total of 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Of these, 9 are international airports, and the rest are domestic airports.

Major Domestic Airports

• Asaba International Airport
• Margaret Ekpo International Airport
• Maiduguri International Airport
• Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport (Bauchi State Airport)
• Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA)

Other Domestic Airports

• Gombe Lawanti International Airport (Sani Abacha Int'l.)
• Kebbi International Airport (Sir Ahmadu Bello Int'l.)
• Dutse International Airport
• Jalingo Airport (Danbaba Danfulani Suntai Airport)
• Katsina Airport
• Makurdi Airport
• Warri Airport (Osubi Airstrip)
• Bayelsa International Airport
• Damaturu Cargo Airport
• Bajoga Northeast Airport

Military Airbases

• Katsina Air Force Base
• Port Harcourt NAF Base
• Makurdi Air Force Base
• Kaduna Air Force Base

Private-Public Partnership Airport

There is only one private-public partnership airport in Nigeria, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd:

Murtala Muhammed Airport Two

Major domestic airports in Nigeria

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Five of these are international airports, with several others serving both international and domestic flights. Here is a list of some of the major domestic airports in Nigeria:

Asaba International Airport

Asaba International Airport is one of the major domestic airports in Nigeria. It is located in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. The airport was commissioned in 2013 and has a 3.4-km runway.

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport

Also known as the Bauchi State Airport, this airport is located 28.8 km from the city of Bauchi. It is a relatively new airport, established in 2014 and named after a former Prime Minister of Nigeria.

Margaret Ekpo International Airport

The Margaret Ekpo International Airport is located in Calabar, Cross River State. Established in 1983, it is about 4.3 km from the city and serves as the main airport for the city of Calabar.

Yakubu Gowon Airport

Yakubu Gowon Airport is a domestic airport serving the city of Jos, the capital of Plateau State. It was established in the 1970s and is located about 36.5 km from the city.

Maiduguri International Airport

Maiduguri International Airport is a major airport in northeastern Nigeria, serving the capital of Borno State. It was built in 1950 and is approximately 10 km from the city. The airport has two terminals, one for domestic and the other for international flights.

Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA)

Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, also known as the Imo State Airport, is a major domestic airport serving Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Built in 1983, it is located about 17 km from the city and has three terminals serving various airlines.

Other domestic airports in Nigeria

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). In addition to these airports, there are also airstrips and airfields scattered across the country, built by the Nigerian Air Force and multinational oil companies.

Gombe Lawanti International Airport (Sani Abacha Int'l.)

The airport serves the city of Gombe and is named after its proximity to Lawanti. It was established in 2005, about 29 km from the town. It handles domestic and commercial flights to some cities.

Kebbi International Airport (Sir Ahmadu Bello Int'l.)

Dutse International Airport

Jalingo Airport (Danbaba Danfulani Suntai Airport)

Katsina Airport

Makurdi Airport

Warri Airport (Osubi Airstrip)

Warri Airport is also called Osubi Airstrip and is located 11.9 km from the city of Warri. It serves as the main airport for Effurun in Nigeria and is considered an aviation facility centre for the Delta state.

Bayelsa International Airport

Damaturu Cargo Airport

Bajoga Northeast Airport

Airports in Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos, the financial, cultural, and entertainment capital of Nigeria, is served by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. This airport is one of the busiest airports in Africa, with 27 airlines operating flights to and from 43 destinations. It is located in Ikeja, Lagos State, and is also known as Lagos Airport. The airport has two terminals, one kilometre apart, that use the same runway. MMA1 is government-run and primarily handles international traffic, while the newer, privately-owned MMA2 serves mainly domestic flights.

The airport is named after Murtala Muhammed, the fourth military ruler of Nigeria, and was built during World War II. It underwent recent development, including updates to facilities and the opening of restaurants and duty-free stores.

Lagos Airport has a wide range of amenities, including:

• Baby care facilities
• Deluxe lounges and rest zones
• Currency exchange counters
• ATMs
• Banks
• Duty-free shopping
• Restaurants and cafes
• Postal services
• Christian and Muslim prayer rooms
• Showers

A variety of lounges are available at the airport, some of which require paid entry.

Airports in Abuja, Nigeria

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Abuja, the country's capital, is served by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV). It is located in the Federal Capital Territory, approximately 20 km (12 mi) west of the city centre. The airport was named after Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996), a foremost nationalist and one of the country's founding fathers.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is the second largest and busiest airport in Nigeria, handling around 4.88 million passengers annually. It was established in 2002 and has four terminals, two for domestic flights and two for international flights. The airport is operated by FAAN and has direct flights to capitals in Africa and Europe.

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 N1 billion for the completion of the Kaduna Airport terminal, which was considered as an alternative airport to Abuja. The airport was reopened on April 18, 2017, following the completion of the runway repairs. On December 20, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a new terminal building, which is expected to process up to 15 million passengers annually.

Frequently asked questions