As Nigeria’s aviation industry looks ahead to 2026, key stakeholders are calling for deeper reforms to strengthen safety, reduce costs and create a more competitive operating environment.
While speaking with Elizabeth Toyon, industry leaders commended ongoing government efforts but stressed that policy implementation, infrastructure upgrades, fair charges and improved regulatory efficiency are essential for sustainable growth. They urged government agencies to move beyond promises to concrete action that will make aviation more affordable, better regulated and more supportive of regional connectivity and manpower development.
Founder of Jet Afrique, Mr. Theodore Obiora Chikelu said the company’s expectations from government in 2026 are not centered on Jet Afrique alone, but on creating a healthier aviation ecosystem for everyone.
According to him, Jet Afrique’s plan to introduce AeroWest, the premier aviation conference & exhibition dedicated to unlocking the future of air transport in West and Central Africa is rooted in a broader regional vision for West and Central Africa. He emphasised the need to actualise existing regional agreements that were designed to make the sub-region a single aviation market, reduce visa barriers, and simplify operations across borders. He noted that despite existing frameworks, the “open sky” initiative has not worked in practice due to high charges imposed on airlines within the region.
Chikelu called on government to review excessive charges, taxes, and operational fees from aviation agencies such as FAAN, NCAA, NAMA and their equivalents in other countries, saying such heavy billing destroys airlines and keeps ticket prices high. He cited instances where flights within the sub-region cost as high as ₦600,000–₦700,000, which he described as unacceptable.
He also urged government to support currency harmonization and reciprocal agreements to make regional operations smoother and fairer for all airlines.
Beyond charges,he further urged government to reduce the financial barriers to establishing airlines in Nigeria. He noted that while banks abroad easily support airline startups, in Nigeria ,operators are expected to produce billions of naira before being allowed to operate, which discourages investment and encourages cutting corners.
Chikelu encouraged government to promote aircraft leasing culture and favorable insurance policies, saying these would ease access to fleet acquisition and reduce operational risk.
He stressed that reform must go beyond policy, urging both regulators and citizens to embrace integrity, proper training, and professionalism rather than shortcuts or favoritism in appointments within the sector.
He concluded that Jet Afrique is not attacking government, but advocating for a better, fairer, more efficient aviation environment that benefits all industry players and passengers across the region.
Co-founder of Jet Afrique, Mr. Hassan Abdullahi Zakari, said the company expects government in 2026 to prioritize strong reforms that address key gaps in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He emphasised the need for policy harmonization across all subsectors of the aviation industry, noting that conflicting regulations slow down growth and discourage investment.
According to him, one of the major challenges facing the sector is inadequate skilled manpower, which government must urgently tackle.
Zakari called for faster development of aviation training institutions, including the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria and new proposed training schools, saying delays weaken the impact of such initiatives. He stressed that these ambitions should fully materialise in 2026.
He also urged government to improve aviation infrastructure nationwide. He warned against the proliferation of airports located too close to one another, describing it as unsafe and economically inefficient, and advised that such expansion should be properly regulated.
Zakari noted that many existing airports lack facilities for night operations, which forces airlines to underutilize aircraft that should ideally operate around the clock. He cited the absence of adequate runway lighting and other critical infrastructure as major limiting factors.
While acknowledging progress made by the Aviation Ministry in insurance policy reform, he said more still needs to be done to provide favorable aviation insurance and leasing frameworks so airlines can acquire aircraft and operate sustainably.
He said 2026 should be a year of implementation rather than promises.
“We must move beyond rhetoric to action,” he said, stressing that practical steps are necessary to transform Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The CEO of Aviatrix Hub, a passionate Aviation training institute ,Mrs. Victoria Jumoke Adegbe, said the institution expects the government and its regulatory agencies to continue strengthening ongoing reforms in 2026, noting that noticeable improvements have already been recorded.
According to her, government agencies “are really trying and are now strictly following laid-down procedures.” She explained that having worked closely with them for about four years, “they are much better than they used to be,” which, she said, shows that consistent effort and reforms are yielding results.
Mrs. Adegbe added that regulators now clearly identify gaps and give timelines for compliance, helping operators stay focused and accountable.
“They keep me on my toes every step of the way to ensure I do my job right,” she said.
However, she stressed the need for improvement in communication systems and response time, especially with official correspondence by the Nigeria Civil AviationAuthority (NCAA). She noted that many times, staff rely on their personal phones in the absence of functional official contact channels.
“Sometimes it takes too long to get responses to letters or requests,” she said, urging the government to strengthen official communication infrastructure.
She said with better communication, faster response time, and continued support, the aviation training ecosystem would function even more efficiently in 2026.
Sabre Central & West Africa (Sabre CWA), a leading travel technology and distribution company serving airlines and travel agencies across the region, called for clearer policy direction, stronger regulatory oversight, and technology-focused governance to ensure the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector in 2026 and beyond.
The company made the call against the backdrop of rapid changes in airline retailing, driven by digital distribution, New Distribution Capability (NDC), and the expansion of airline direct sales channels. According to Sabre, government policy and regulation must evolve in step with these developments to effectively support a modern aviation ecosystem.
President of Sabre Central & West Africa, Mr. Joshua Olowo, said travel distribution has become a critical pillar of aviation, alongside aircraft and airport infrastructure. He noted that as technology increasingly determines how fares are created, sold, and competed for, regulators must be adequately equipped to supervise the system in a fair and transparent manner.
Sabre CWA identified strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in travel technology and distribution oversight as a key expectation for 2026. The company emphasized that Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), airline retailing platforms, and digital travel intermediaries now play a central role in airline revenue generation and market competition.
It recommended that the NCAA develop a specialised regulatory framework to monitor airline distribution practices across GDSs and direct channels, ensure transparency in booking and ticketing data, and curb unethical practices such as fictitious or inflated bookings aimed at distorting market share.
Chairman of InterGuide Group, Dr. Gabriel Olowo, warned that manipulation of booking data undermines confidence in the aviation system. He stressed that building regulatory capability to protect fair competition is essential for genuine and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s aviation market.
Sabre also highlighted the need for policies that safeguard the role of licensed travel agencies as airlines increasingly push direct channels and NDC-based offers. The company said regulators should ensure fair content distribution across all authorised channels, enable agencies to compete on price and service, and protect consumer choice and transparency.
According to Joshua Olowo, a balanced ecosystem involving airlines, agencies, and technology providers is essential for a healthy aviation market, warning that unchecked dominance by any single channel could lead to instability rather than efficiency.
In addition, Sabre CWA urged the Federal Government to support innovation through the development of data and cybersecurity standards for travel platforms, improved digital payment and settlement systems for cross-border travel, and technology-driven training and certification for travel professionals.
The company said such measures would strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global travel market.
Looking ahead, Sabre Central & West Africa reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with airlines, regulators, and industry stakeholders to build a more transparent, competitive, and technology-enabled aviation sector.
Dr. Gabriel Olowo said Nigeria possesses the scale, talent, and demand to emerge as a leading aviation hub in Africa, adding that what the sector needs in 2026 is regulation that understands modern travel distribution and supports growth with fairness and credibility.
One Comment