Wings of Growth Weighed Down by Cost and Policy

The low, reverberating hum of aircraft engines once symbolized progress, connectivity, and the economic potential of Africa’s most populous nation. Today, it serves as a reminder of an industry struggling to stay aloft.

From the bustling Murtala Muhammed International Airport to the regional terminals in Kano and Enugu, Nigeria’s aviation sector is facing headwinds that are slowing its flight path to growth. Despite signs of promise, rising passenger numbers, increased interest from global partners, and growing domestic demand, sky-high operational costs and inconsistent government policies threaten to stall momentum.

For a 36 year old flight attendant with a domestic carrier, every flight feels like a battle against gravity, and not just in the physical sense.

“We used to operate five flights a day,” she says, adjusting her uniform in the crew lounge of the Lagos airport. “Now, it’s two—sometimes just one. Not because passengers aren’t flying, but because the airline is bleeding from fuel costs, taxes, and regulatory bottlenecks.”

Fueling Crisis

Jet A1, the lifeblood of aviation, has become one of the biggest burdens. The report indicated that, at  over ₦1,300 per litre as of May 2025, the cost of aviation fuel has surged by more than 200% in the last two years. Unlike their counterparts in other nations, Nigerian carriers buy fuel in naira but import it in dollars, creating a volatile and unsustainable pricing model. Many airlines, already operating on razor-thin margins, are forced to cut routes, ground aircraft, or, worse, shut down entirely.

“We’re not asking for bailouts,” says Captain pilot and chairman of a private aviation union. “We’re asking for a clear policy direction. Let us know if we are meant to survive or merely exist.”

Turbulence in Policy Skies

Regulatory uncertainty has only compounded the issue. Inconsistent customs duties on imported aircraft parts, sudden charges from multiple aviation agencies, and conflicting directives from federal ministries have created a minefield of compliance issues. While the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) pushes safety upgrades, airlines say they are rarely given the breathing space to implement changes sustainably.

Government promises to invest in airport infrastructure and float a national carrier have also fallen short. The much-anticipated Nigeria Air project remains mired in controversy and legal entanglements, while private operators struggle with inadequate facilities, poor navigation systems, and recurring delays in air traffic control services.

The Human Toll

At the heart of this crisis are the workers—pilots flying longer hours for less pay, engineers cannibalizing old aircraft to keep others in the air, and young aviation graduates waiting endlessly for employment opportunities that may never come.

“I graduated three years ago with a degree in aeronautical engineering,” says a 28 year old from Kaduna. “I’ve sent applications to every airline in the country. All I get are regrets‘we’re not hiring,’ ‘fleet grounded,’ ‘cost of maintenance too high.’ I’m now working as a car mechanic to survive.”

Hope on the Horizon?

Still, not all is bleak. Industry players point to recent dialogue between the Federal Government and private stakeholders as a step in the right direction. There is renewed discussion about refining Jet A1 locally, reviewing multiple taxation, and simplifying importation of parts. But as history has shown, talk without execution means little in an industry driven by precision and timing.

A female managing director of a mid-sized domestic airline, sums it up with weary optimism:

“The skies are open, the market is ready, and Nigerians are eager to fly. But if we keep treating aviation as a luxury instead of a critical infrastructure sector, we’ll never harness its full potential. We must decide: are we building wings for growth, or clipping them?”

As Nigeria dreams of becoming West Africa’s aviation hub, the question lingers in the humid air above its runways, will the wings of growth take flight, or remain shackled by the weight of cost and policy?

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