THE Nigerian government’s negligence in infrastructure development and imposing multiple charges has led to a decline in its aviation industry, with air traffic now shifting to Ghana.
Nigeria was once the leading aviation hub in West Africa, benefiting from its large population exceeding 200 million, strategic location, and busy travel market, positioning it for dominance in regional and intercontinental air transport.
Nigeria is losing international passengers and airline investments to Ghana, primarily due to the transformation of Kotoka International Airport in Accra into a rapidly growing transit hub, evolving from a national gateway.
However, Nigeria still dominates the West coast in international passenger traffic, according to recent statistics from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
In 2025, Nigeria had 4.85 million international passenger movements, compared to Togo’s 1,584,188 and Ghana’s 2.72 million. Despite Nigeria’s high figures, passenger traffic has remained static over the last decade, while Ghana’s traffic has increased by about 60%, with Kotoka International Airport handling over 90% of its international movements.
The stagnation in Nigeria’s airline sector stems not only from infrastructure issues but significantly from years of inconsistent policies, regulatory challenges, multiple taxes, foreign exchange instability, and a costly operating environment for airlines.
Nigeria currently not only exports passengers, but also aviation earnings, tourism income, employment opportunities and future investment. Passengers departing from Accra also contribute economically by spending on hotels, transport, and shopping in Ghana.
Nigeria’s international traffic has remained unchanged for the past decade, while Ghana’s has seen gradual increases. Many Nigerian travelers to long-haul destinations like London, New York, Toronto, Dubai, and Amsterdam first transit through Accra to board international flights.
President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Dr. Yinka Folami, stated that Nigeria is losing its travel market to neighboring countries due to high airfares, which drive Nigerians to seek cheaper travel options elsewhere.
Folami indicated that while the situation benefited travel operators financially, it resulted in a loss for Nigeria due to lost tax revenues. What started as a temporary cost-saving measure has evolved into a frequent mode of travel.
A short flight from Lagos or Abuja to Accra, paired with an international ticket from Ghana, often proves cheaper than buying the same route directly from Nigeria, resulting in potential savings of hundreds to thousands of dollars, particularly in premium cabins.
Aviation analysts note that attribute until Nigeria reforms its tax system and addresses operational costs, traffic is likely to continue favouring Ghana’s airport, highlighting the critical need for immediate policy changes in Nigeria’s aviation sector.