Nigeria to host first-ever international airshow in December 2025

Nigeria will host its first international airshow in December 2025, joining the ranks of countries that have successfully staged the global aviation event.

The programme will place Nigeria alongside the United Kingdom, organisers of the Farnborough Airshow, the Dubai Airshow, Aviation Africa, and Ghana, which hosted a similar event in October 2017 that attracted thousands of practitioners and airline companies.

Checks gathered that preparations are in top gear, from the federal ministry of aviation down to agencies working round the clock ahead of the show.

Airshows are major international events because aviation is a global industry. They attract policymakers, investors, manufacturers and service providers, and are seen as platforms for marketing, networking and investment. They also boost tourism due to the number of participants involved.

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Aircraft manufacturers, airlines, maintenance and repair organisations, aircraft financiers and leasing firms, ground handling companies such as NAHCO and SAHCO, insurers, general sales agents and foreign airline representatives are all expected to participate.

The absence of Nigeria Air, a project bungled by the last administration, is still a setback for the sector. But the resilience of Air Peace and other local operators, who have filled the void since the demise of the national carrier in 2003, has drawn commendation. Industry players say it would have been an embarrassment if no local airline was available to distribute passengers and tourists visiting for the event.

Nigeria Airways, founded in 1958 after the collapse of the West African Airways Corporation (WAAC), was once a regional giant. In the 1970s and 1980s, its fleet — which included Vickers VC10s, Boeing 707s and McDonnell Douglas DC10s — connected Lagos, Kano and Enugu to global cities such as London, New York and Jeddah.

The upcoming airshow is expected to be a win-win for the aviation community and particularly the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), whose facilities will host the displays, exhibitions and logistics. Industry experts say FAAN stands to gain additional revenue from airport space and services that will be in high demand.

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The event also ties into ongoing reforms across airports under the leadership of Olubunmi Kuku, FAAN’s managing director. Since she assumed office, FAAN’s internally generated revenue has grown significantly, hitting over N112 billion compared to N54.3 billion in 2023 and N30.5 billion in 2022.

Officials link this growth to infrastructure upgrades across airports, including terminal renovations, apron expansions, improved airfield lighting, tighter security, advanced screening technologies and surveillance systems, as well as better baggage handling services. These reforms, they say, helped secure government approval for Nigeria to host the airshow.

Uzoma Nwagu, managing director of Excel Cargo and Aviation Services Limited, urged stakeholders to maximise the opportunity. He praised the federal government and Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, for what he described as a bold initiative.

Nwagu, who has attended several airshows abroad, said: “Nigeria stands the chance to generate millions of dollars from the event and also create temporary employment opportunities for teaming Nigeria Youths during the periods the program would last.

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“Hosting an airshow in the country this time is a good idea. Aviation in Nigeria has come a long way. My candid advice therefore is that, both the government, the aviation agencies, including companies that would perform one duties or the other during the time of the global event should be circumspect.

“We want a situation where the country will be commended after the air show and our ratings too, improved tremendously. That is what some of us who have spent many years in the industry are expecting to see. This global event should not be mixed with politics.”

The plan to replace the old MMIA Terminal One with a smart airport, according to Keyamo, will further improve the image of Nigeria’s aviation sector, even though the project will likely be completed after the airshow. For stakeholders, the event is not just about aerial displays but also a statement of Nigeria’s readiness to take a stronger place on the global aviation stage.