Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has urged African countries to transform airports from transit facilities into economic hubs that drive trade, tourism, jobs and investment.
Keyamo made the call on Tuesday while opening the 35th ACI Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
He said passenger growth alone would not deliver sustainable economic benefits unless African airports became safer, more efficient, financially viable and technologically advanced.
According to the minister, Africa already has the population, market, tourism assets and entrepreneurial capacity needed to expand its aviation industry but requires stronger infrastructure, connectivity, policies and institutions to unlock that potential. “Africa has the market, the people, the geography, the tourism assets and the entrepreneurial energy.”
He said it should not be easier for passengers to travel from an African city to a destination outside the continent than between two cities within Africa.
The minister said stronger intra-African air networks would support trade and make the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area more accessible to businesses, passengers and traders. “When African airports connect Africa more effectively, Africa becomes smaller and opportunity becomes larger.”
Keyamo also called for resilience to be incorporated into airport infrastructure, business models and institutions from the planning stage.
He said airports should be viewed as economic ecosystems capable of supporting employment, logistics, tourism and wider commercial activity. “An airport is not simply a place where aircraft land and take off. It is an economic ecosystem.”
For Nigeria, the minister highlighted increased private-sector participation in aviation infrastructure and services while maintaining safety, security and public-interest safeguards.
He also pointed to efforts to develop aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul capacity, aircraft leasing and cargo facilities.
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Mirian Gom 