Nigeria transport and aviation sector growth

Nigeria is experiencing significant growth across its transport and logistics sectors. In the first half of 2026, passenger motor vehicle imports surged by 145.6 per cent year-on-year to ₦1.18 trillion, driven in part by federal policy measures that reduced tariffs on fully built vehicles from 70% to 40%. Despite this increase, importers highlighted ongoing challenges at Lagos ports, including high clearance costs, bottlenecks, and lengthy processing times.

Parallel growth is evident in the aviation sector, where Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s fourth-largest aviation market. Following an 11.9% increase in passenger traffic in 2025, which saw over 18.8 million domestic and international movements, scheduled airline capacity rose by 37.4% in September 2026 compared to the previous year. This expansion, making Nigeria the fastest-expanding major aviation market in Africa, is attributed to currency reforms, new aircraft leasing, and infrastructure modernization.

A key driver has been Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where scheduled seat capacity increased by 24.1%. Furthermore, Nigeria achieved a record 91.45% effective implementation score in a 2026 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety audit. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo stated this score serves as a “new baseline” for ongoing reforms. The government is currently focusing on modernizing airport infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of Terminal 1 at MMIA, to transform airports into economic hubs through private-sector participation.