122 FAAN Officials Working in Minna Airport Without Commercial Flights – MD

• FAAN reports 122 staff at Minna Airport despite no commercial flights, highlighting concerns over underutilized airports draining resources and passenger traffic
• Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku emphasizes the need for viable airports, urging stakeholders to develop plans for Nigeria’s aviation growth

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed that 122 of its staff members are currently employed at Minna Airport in Niger State, despite the airport not operating any commercial flights. This revelation was made by FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, during the 9th Airport Business Summit and Expo held in Lagos, which focused on the theme: “Airport Viability is Key to Successful Aviation Business Ambition.”

Mrs. Kuku expressed concern that many airports in Nigeria have not increased passenger traffic and that most of the unviable airports are draining FAAN’s resources. She highlighted that while Africa is projected to have 261 million passengers by 2025, Nigeria is still far from realizing its potential in the aviation sector.

She noted, “The majority of our facilities are operating below capacity; it’s very clear. Let me even shift from the international or the regional airports and look at the domestic terminals. I believe we have about 122 staff working in Minna. Today, no single flight for commercial operations is flying out of Minna. But despite that, let’s look at the positives.”

Kuku also pointed out that despite Nigeria’s large population of over 220 million, the number of passengers flying on domestic and international routes is still low. She emphasized that passenger traffic is primarily driven by economic growth and development, not merely the number of airports.

Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, warned that unviable airports threaten the sustainability of the aviation sector. He called on industry stakeholders to develop actionable plans to drive Nigeria’s next aviation growth phase. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, the minister reiterated the federal government’s commitment to making its airports viable, emphasizing the importance of strong, efficient, and sustainable airports for the aviation industry’s success.

A former Managing Director of FAAN, Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, also stressed the importance of route development and revenue optimization for the sustainability of state airports. He pointed out that the objective of establishing airports in almost all 36 states of Nigeria was to enhance connectivity and improve logistics for both passengers and cargo. However, he noted that the success of this initiative would depend on the economic sustainability and usability of the airports.