International 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, 5 are fully functional international airports, with another 4 airports designated for international operations but not fully equipped to handle international flights. The busiest international airport in Nigeria is the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

Nigeria has 31 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). There are five fully-equipped international airports in the country, with another six having international status but not meeting international standards.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is one of the five fully-equipped international airports in Nigeria. It is located in Ikeja, Lagos State, and is the major airport serving the state. MMIA is the busiest airport in Nigeria, serving over 7 million passengers annually. It is the main base for Nigeria's largest airline, Air Peace, as well as several other Nigerian airlines. The airport consists of an international and a domestic terminal, located about one kilometre apart. Both terminals share the same runways.

The airport was originally built during World War II and was initially known as Lagos Airport. It was renamed in 1976 after Murtala Muhammed, the fourth military ruler of Nigeria, who was assassinated in a failed coup attempt. A new international terminal was constructed and opened on 15 March 1979, as part of a master plan to ensure sufficient capacity through the year 2000.

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 new passenger terminal at MMIA. The new terminal was commissioned in March 2022 and has the capacity to process 14 million passengers annually.

The airport has a range of facilities, including a 24/7 secure ultra-modern cargo facility, world-class lounge services, and a fully-equipped training centre with high-speed internet.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

Nigeria has 31 airports, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Of these, 11 are designated for international operations, and 5 are fully equipped and compliant with international standards.

One of these five is the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, located in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. It is the second busiest airport in the country and the main airport serving the capital city of Abuja. The airport is named after Nigeria's first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and was built in the early 2000s, opening in 2002. It is situated around 20km (12 miles) west of Abuja and has an international and a domestic terminal that share a single runway.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is a pivotal symbol of Nigeria's commitment to modernising its aviation infrastructure. As the primary aviation gateway to the capital city, it serves both domestic and international flights, catering to the travel needs of a diverse range of passengers. The airport's infrastructure is designed with scalability in mind, boasting an impressive capacity to handle up to 11 million passengers annually. This capacity was further enhanced with the addition of a new terminal building in 2018, which increased the airport's capacity to 15 million passengers per year.

The airport has attracted recognition from international carriers such as Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines, reflecting its status as a preferred destination for global travellers. The airport's operations are managed by FAAN, which has its head office on the airport grounds. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also have their head offices located at the airport.

In recent years, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport has undergone several improvements and upgrades. In 2017, the airport's only runway underwent emergency rehabilitation, leading to a temporary closure of the airport for six weeks. During this period, flights were diverted to the neighbouring Kaduna Airport. The rehabilitation project was completed ahead of schedule, and the airport reopened on April 17, 2017.

The airport continues to be a central hub for travellers, both domestic and international, and is deeply intertwined with the history and progress of Nigeria. It stands as a testament to the country's aspirations for seamless and world-class air travel experiences.

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano

Nigeria has 31 airports, 11 of which are designated for international operations. However, only five of these are fully equipped and compliant with international standards, capable of efficiently handling international flights.

One of these airports is the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, located in the historical Kano State of Nigeria. The airport is named after the 20th-century politician Aminu Kano. It is the oldest airport in Nigeria, with operations starting in 1936. Before Nigeria's independence, it was a Royal Air Force station. The airport serves as a vital hub for the large Sudanese community in Kano and for Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.

The airport has two runways and two terminals, one for domestic and one for international flights. The domestic terminal serves operations of IRS Airlines and has a newsstand and a small bar. The international terminal has a small VIP lounge for business class passengers, a newsstand near the check-in counter, and a small bar at the airside. The duty-free shops are currently closed, but there is a post office in the arrivals hall.

The airport serves both civilian and military flights. Runway 06/24 is mainly used for civilian flights, while runway 05/23 primarily serves the Nigerian Air Force base at the south side of the airport. The airport is also the site of a tragic aviation disaster in 1973, when an Alia Boeing 707-320C crashed while attempting to land in high winds, killing 176 of the 202 passengers and crew on board.

Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa

Nigeria has 31 to 32 airports, 11 of which are designated for international operations. However, only five of these are fully equipped and capable of handling international flights.

One of these five airports is Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. Located in Omagwa, a suburb of Port Harcourt, the airport is situated in the capital city of the Rivers State in Nigeria. It is owned and operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which manages all commercial airports in the country.

Port Harcourt International Airport is a vital transportation hub, serving not only the residents of Rivers State but also those in neighbouring South-Southern States. The airport has played a pivotal role in enhancing regional connectivity and economic interactions. It is located in the middle of the country's oil and gas hub, contributing to the Nigerian economy and government revenue.

The airport has two terminals, one for international flights and the other for domestic journeys. The new international terminal was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari on 25 October 2018. This new terminal was constructed to accommodate the growing passenger traffic, with a maximum annual handling capacity of seven million passengers. The old terminal is currently being renovated to handle domestic and commercial aircraft operations.

The airport's single runway is asphalt-surfaced, with a length of 9,846 feet (3,001 metres) and a width of 197 feet (60 metres). The landing and take-off distances are 9,846 feet (3,001 metres) and 10,246 feet (3,123 metres), respectively.

Port Harcourt International Airport has a significant role in the country's economy, providing direct air connections to major destinations worldwide, particularly Western countries. In 2009, the airport served 1,081,587 passengers, making it the third busiest airport in Nigeria.

Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu

Nigeria has 31 or 32 airports, depending on the source, 26 of which are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Of these airports, 5 are fully equipped and compliant with international standards, capable of efficiently handling international flights.

One of these five airports is Akanu Ibiam International Airport (IATA: ENU, ICAO: DNEN), also known as Enugu Airport. The airport is named after Akanu Ibiam (1906–1995), a medical doctor and statesman from Afikpo in Ebonyi State. Enugu Airport serves Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, as well as nearby cities such as Abakaliki, Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Afikpo, Okigwe, Nsukka, Ugep, Orlu, Idah, Otukpo, and Ogoja. Enugu is located in southeastern Nigeria and is known as the "coal city", a name that references its history as a hub for coal mining. The airport is strategically located in Emene, Enugu's primary industrial hub.

Akanu Ibiam International Airport is also 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 was closed for renovations and expansion on February 10, 2010, and reopened on December 16, 2010. However, the second and third phases of construction are still ongoing, with the airport preparing for its new status as an international airport.

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