International Travel: Nigeria's Multiple Airport Hubs

Nigeria has a total of 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). However, only five of these airports are fully equipped and compliant with international standards, capable of efficiently handling international flights. These five airports are:

1. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

2. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

3. Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State

4. Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano

5. Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu

How many international airports are in Nigeria?

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

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 listed as a functional international airport. There is also a state-owned airport in Akwa Ibom State.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is the principal airport serving Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. It is named after Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first president. The airport is located approximately 20km (12 miles) west or southwest of the city and has an international and a domestic terminal that share a single runway.

The airport was built in the early 2000s and opened in 2002. It is the second busiest airport in Nigeria and often hosts visiting dignitaries, government officials, and business and leisure travellers.

In 2000, a new terminal was built by Julius Berger, located near the existing terminal. The new terminal, which opened in 2002, serves international flights, while the existing terminal now serves domestic flights.

In 2017, the airport was closed for six weeks to allow for repairs on its runway, which was said to be dysfunctional. The runway had been in use for nearly 40 years at that point and was showing signs of fatigue and disrepair. The Nigerian government approved N1 billion for the Kaduna Airport terminal to accommodate flights during the closure. The airport reopened on April 18, 2017, two days ahead of schedule.

On December 20, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a new terminal building, which can process up to 15 million passengers annually.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have their head offices on the airport grounds. The airport also operates a private jet wing serving businesses, diplomats, and politicians.

Anambra International Cargo Airport, Umueri

Nigeria has 32 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Five of these are international airports, with an additional state-owned airport in Akwa Ibom State.

One of the five international airports is the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, located in Umuleri, Anambra State, at Ivite-Umueri. This airport is relatively new, having only begun commercial operations in December 2021. In its first month of service, the airport handled 142 flights and 3,865 passengers.

The Anambra International Cargo Airport was constructed by Governor Willy Obiano, building on the land acquisition work of the previous Peter Obi Administration. The airport project has faced some controversy, with concerns raised about the haste with which it was pushed through and the potential politicisation of its development. Despite this, the airport has now been fully operational for two years.

The airport is named after the state in which it is located, Anambra State. Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria, and its name means 'Onitsha on the high ground' in the indigenous Igbo language. The state was created in 1991 from part of the old Anambra State, which had a different territorial structure. Anambra is known for its agricultural production, including cash crops such as cocoa, yam, rice, and cassava.

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 source listing nine international airports in the country.

One of these five international airports is Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The airport is located in Emene, the primary industrial hub in Enugu, also known as the 'coal city'. It 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.

The airport is named after Akanu Ibiam (1906-1995), a physician and statesman from Afikpo in Ebonyi State. On February 10, 2010, the airport was closed for the first phase of a major renovation and expansion project. It reopened on December 16, 2010, and the second and third phases of construction are still ongoing. The airport is being prepared for its new status as an international airport.

Akanu Ibiam International Airport 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.

Ilorin International Airport, Fili

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 domestic airports and the remaining 23 being classed as 'other domestic airports'.

Ilorin International Airport, also known as General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, is one of the five international airports in Nigeria. It is located in the Fili area of Ilorin, around 9km southwest of Ilorin town and 1.8km from downtown Ilorin. The airport was commissioned on 16 February 1978 and was upgraded to international status in 2012. It serves as a secondary airport to Lagos Airport and is situated approximately an hour's drive from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The airport has one runway, which is 3,100m x 60m, and can accommodate up to 500 passengers at once following a recent renovation of the terminal building. The airport is served by two airlines, Air Peace and Azman Air, with the most popular destinations being Abuja and Lagos. Improvements are currently underway, including the construction of a new terminal building and the expansion of the runway. These developments are expected to increase the airport's efficiency and capacity to handle more passengers.

The Ilorin International Airport Hotel is located on Airport Road, Off Airforce Barracks Junction, Fili. Amenities include free wifi, free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a fitness centre with a gym and outdoor pool. Nearby attractions include Viva Cinemas, approximately 4.1 miles from the hotel.

Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna

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 listed as an international airport serving cargo. There is also a state-owned airport in Akwa Ibom State.

One of the five international airports is Kaduna International Airport, located in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The airport is about 22 kilometres northwest of Kaduna, the state capital, and has been scheduling flights since 1982. It is one of the country's oldest airports.

Kaduna International Airport is a small airport, serving as a hub for Chanchangi Airlines. It offers flights to and from cities in Nigeria and around the world, with international airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors. The airport has a large parking area for short and long-term stays, and taxis are available for transport to and from the airport.

The airport has a VIP lounge, banks, a mosque, and a bar. There are also a small number of shops, selling fabrics, dried meat, and snacks. There are several hotels near the airport, some within walking distance, and others a few minutes' drive away.

The IATA code for Kaduna International Airport is KAD, and the ICAO code is DNKA.

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