PRIVATISING and commercialising Nigeria’s airports is now an economic imperative and is crucial for building world-class infrastructure and unlocking revenue potential, according to a former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun.
Speaking at the 2026 Airport Business Summit, he advocated for private sector investments to modernize facilities and improve operational efficiency, citing global trends of governments leaning towards private investors due to limited public finances.
Aisuebeogun argued that commercializing airports would enhance competition and service delivery. Drawing from successful international concession models, he noted that privately managed airports tend to be more efficient and sustainable.
“Airport commercialisation is essential if we want to improve competition in airport management and attract the investments needed to modernise our aviation infrastructure. The moment airports are commercialised and properly concessioned, operators begin to introduce world-class standards and improve service delivery,” he said.
Aisuebeogun highlighted that airport profitability hinges on passenger traffic, which cannot rely solely on airlines, especially as governments face pressure to cut public spending for major expansions.