BY SAM OTUONYE
The Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission, Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, has said Nigeria stands to unlock a major transformation in its aviation sector if it fully implements the Single African Air Transport Market.
She said accelerated liberalisation could cut airfares by up to 35 per cent, boost passenger traffic by 55 per cent, and open as many as 40 new intra-African routes within five years.
She stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s National Aviation Conference held in Lagos recently. The Single African Air Transport Market initiative, a flagship African Union project, aims to liberalise air travel across the continent, fostering economic integration and stimulating tourism and trade.
Despite being a signatory to SAATM, Nigeria’s aviation industry is being left behind due to the absence of dedicated transit zones that facilitate seamless international connections. Industry stakeholders have raised concerns over the foot-dragging nature of the Nigerian government on this issue.
The AFCAC boss described the potential benefits as “nothing short of transformational.” She said SAATM offers Nigeria a pathway to deeper connectivity, bigger markets, and a more competitive aviation system, provided the country moves from aspiration to implementation.
“Nigeria has everything it needs to become the beating heart of African aviation, but the benefits will only flow when we embrace full liberalisation. SAATM is not an abstract idea. It is a real, measurable opportunity for cheaper tickets, stronger airlines, and a more connected continent.”
Adeyemi said Nigeria remains indispensable to the continent’s aviation strategy, but persistent structural constraints, including restrictive bilaterals, protectionist policies, and weak infrastructure, continue to limit growth.
“Our skies remain fragmented. We cannot talk about continental prosperity when airlines are restricted from flying freely across Africa. Liberalisation works, and every country that has embraced it has seen the benefits.”
She argued that Nigeria’s geography, population, and aviation heritage place it in a unique position to drive SAATM’s success. But she warned that the anticipated gains will not materialise unless the country adopts modern regulatory frameworks and creates a fair, competitive market environment.
“We cannot build a modern aviation market on outdated frameworks. If we want competitive Nigerian airlines, we must reduce bottlenecks that make operations difficult and expensive.”
The AFCAC Secretary-General identified high ticket prices across Africa as a symptom of policy-induced constraints rather than pure market forces. She maintained that removing barriers to competition would immediately lower fares, stimulate tourism and business travel, and help expand the continent’s middle class.
Adeyemi said Nigeria must adopt predictable, transparent, and flexible policies aligned with SAATM principles if it hopes to position itself at the centre of African travel demand.
She acknowledged ongoing reforms by FAAN and commended its Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, for prioritising airport upgrades. However, she insisted that physical infrastructure alone cannot deliver the scale of growth Nigeria seeks.
“Infrastructure is important, but it must be matched with regulatory openness, modern air navigation systems, and a strong safety oversight culture. This is how we make the Nigerian aviation market attractive to both local and foreign operators.”
Adeyemi stressed that achieving SAATM’s objectives will require stronger collaboration among airlines, regulators, airports, and the private sector. “Aviation does not thrive in silos. When Nigeria aligns its policies with continental standards, our airlines will be more competitive, and our airports will attract more traffic.”
“The countries that open up now will dominate the future of African aviation. Nigeria can either lead this transformation or watch others shape the market without us. The continent is watching Nigeria. If we act boldly, we can unlock growth that benefits our airlines, our airports, and our people. SAATM gives us that chance; we must rise to meet it.”
In July, the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, asked for the complete implementation of SAATM, saying it will not only increase air traffic passengers, it will also increase trade within the airport terminal.
He said when SAATM becomes effective in motion, “Customs and immigration will not need to check transit passengers’ visas. They don’t need visas. Look at small Togo; they don’t even have domestic operations, but ASKY is thriving because they have made it easy for passengers to come in, connect, and leave. That is what brings money. That is how they attract traffic.”