The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria has been urged to carry out a detailed assessment of how land is currently being used at Nigeria’s airports, with the aim of identifying and recovering misallocated or underutilized spaces.
The appeal was made by Fortune Idu, Chairman of FCI International, during his address at the 2025 Aviation Business Summit and Expo (ABSE). He emphasized that this land-use audit is crucial for completing the airport master plan and for curbing the uncontrolled occupation of airport land by individuals, corporate bodies, and even government entities.
Airport land infrastructure
Idu expressed concern over the excessive number of fuel depots within airport premises, stating that rather than generating meaningful revenue, these facilities increase operational risks and consume valuable space. He also pointed to the visible decline in airport land infrastructure and criticized the fragmented and uncoordinated allocation of space across federal airports.
He remarked that in many airports, fuel contractors and tanker farms outnumber aircraft and airlines, questioning the rationale behind such trends. Idu further noted that prime airport land is being taken up by various government agencies, contributing to congestion and stalling potential for future development.
Highlighting that airport projects often have a 25-year gestation period, Idu cautioned against viewing unused airport land as surplus. He underlined that such land is reserved for future airport expansion and economic growth in the states where airports are located.
He reinforced the idea that airports are strategic economic zones whose development requires careful planning and structured funding. Under the summit’s theme, Investment Opportunities in Airport Public-Private Partnerships, Idu stressed that airports play a pivotal role in facilitating economic activity by enabling fast and reliable movement of goods and people particularly vital in a geographically large country like Nigeria.
To ensure sustainability, he advocated for diverse financing models including government funding, development grants, private investment, and partnerships with the private sector. He said that the summit serves to gather insights, explore investment opportunities, and promote innovative ways to finance airport development.