Nigeria has launched an ambitious 20-year roadmap to overhaul its aviation sector, as authorities seek to address infrastructure bottlenecks and position the country as a competitive air transport hub in Africa.
The new Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP), developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization, was officially handed over on April 14, 2026, during a global aviation gathering in Morocco. The document outlines a comprehensive strategy to guide the sector’s development from 2026 through 2045.
Designed in collaboration with Nigerian aviation stakeholders, the plan sets out priority reforms across infrastructure, regulation, and operational efficiency. It targets improvements in critical areas such as air navigation services, airport expansion, safety oversight, and aviation security, while also strengthening institutional and human capacity.
The initiative comes at a time of rapid growth in Nigeria’s domestic aviation market. With approximately 10.5 million passengers recorded in 2025, the country now ranks as Africa’s second-largest domestic air travel market, driven by increased flight frequencies and the expansion of private airlines. Data from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria highlights the scale of this growth, but also underscores mounting pressure on existing infrastructure.
Major gateways such as Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja continue to face capacity and service quality challenges. Despite handling significant passenger volumes, both airports have struggled to meet global service benchmarks and have remained absent from rankings like the Skytrax World Airport Awards in recent years.
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To bridge these gaps, Nigeria has already embarked on a series of modernization efforts. These include terminal upgrades, runway rehabilitation, deployment of advanced security systems, and the rollout of digital solutions such as self-check-in and e-visa platforms. The CAMP is expected to consolidate and scale up these initiatives within a coherent long-term framework.
However, significant challenges remain. Financing the extensive infrastructure upgrades required will be a critical hurdle, particularly in a constrained fiscal environment. In addition, effective coordination among multiple agencies, consistency in policy implementation, and the development of local technical expertise will be essential to the plan’s success.
Governance concerns and regulatory stability also loom as potential risks, with analysts noting that sustained political will and institutional continuity will be key to delivering results over the two-decade horizon.
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If successfully implemented, the master plan could transform Nigeria’s aviation landscape—enhancing connectivity, improving passenger experience, and strengthening the country’s role in regional and global air transport networks.
