In Nigeria, there are 32 airports which are located in different states. although some of Nigeria’s states are yet to have an airport, while few states have two airports. About 26 airports are operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) while five are functional international airports.

Presently, traveling by air is the safest and fastest means of transportation in the country. Every day, people are traveling to different locations within and out of the country for different reasons. Even with a high rate of people traveling by air, there are still some airports in some states where you have to wait for hours after the estimated departure time.

Despite the fact that there are several airports in Nigeria, only a few airports allow you to easily access other states while other airports only allow you to book flights to one or two locations that is Abuja and Lagos. Hence, it is the major reason why some airports are more busy than other airports in the country. Do you want to know the top 10 busiest airports in Nigeria, then you are in the right post. Let’s dive in….

Top 10 Busiest Airports in Nigeria

Below are the top 10 busiest airports in Nigeria.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos)

Murtala Muhammed International Airport is the busiest airport in the country and it’s located in Ikeja, Lagos States. The airport has two terminals which are International and domestic terminals. The international terminal is open 24/7 while the domestic terminal opens 16 hours daily. There are over 27 airlines with access to over 45 destinations both domestic and international.

The airport is home to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and also several head offices of different airlines are located in the airport. According to research, statistics have shown that over 8 million people travel through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport every year.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Abuja)

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is the second busiest airport in the country behind the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. It is located in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The airport was built in 2000 and it was named after the first President of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe. The airport has an international and a domestic terminal that shares the same runways.

With the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, travelers can book flights to all Nigerian states with an airport, especially the northern states. The airport has over 17 airlines flying from Abuja to 42 airports around the world. According to research, statistics have shown that over 6 million people travel through the airport every year.

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (Kano State)

Read my post on the most peaceful states in nigeria

Mallam Aminu Kano International is one of the busiest airports in Nigeria and it is located in Kano states. Before Nigeria gained its independence, the airport was a Royal Air Force station. The airport was named after the politician Aminu Kano and it has an international and a domestic terminal. The airport is the oldest in the country and it is one of the main airports serving the northern state in Nigeria. According to research, statistics have shown that over 800,00 people travel through the airport every year.

Port Harcourt International Airport (River State)

Port Harcourt International Airport is one of Nigeria’s busiest airports and is located in Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers states. After the new international terminal was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, the airport now has two terminals for both domestic and international flights. According to research, there are over 10 airlines and over 1.5 million people travel through the airport every year.

Akanu Ibiam International Airport (Enugu State)

Akanu Ibiam International Airport is one of Nigeria’s busiest airports and is located in Enugu state. The airport was named after a medical doctor and statesman, Late Akanu Ibiam. The airport initially operated domestically before it was announced by the Federal government of Nigeria to be recognized as an international airport following the massive renovations. According to research, there are over 5 airlines and over 500,000 people travel through the airport every year.

Benin Airport (Edo State)

Benin Airport is one of the busiest and oldest airports in Nigeria and it is located in Edo state. The airport was built in 1956 but it was handed over to the Nigerian Airports Authority between 1975 and 1978. There are over 7 airlines that operate domestically serving states like Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt.

Maiduguri International Airport (Borno State)

Maiduguri International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Nigeria and it is located in Borno state. The airport was built in 1950 and currently serves as Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Borno state. There are over 2 airlines that operate domestically serving states like Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Yola.

Margaret Ekpo International Airport (Cross River State)

Margaret Ekpo International Airport is one of Nigeria’s busiest airports and is located in Calabar, Cross River state. The airport was named after one of Nigeria’s pioneering feminist and anticolonial activists, Margaret Ekpo. There are over 3 airlines that operate domestically serving states like Abuja, and Lagos.

Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (Imo State)

Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport is one of the busiest airports in Nigeria and it is located in Owerri, Imo State. The airport was named after the first civilian governor of the old Imo state, Dee Sam Mbakwe. There are over 4 airlines that operate domestically serving states like Abuja, and Lagos.

Warri Airport (Delta State)

Warri Airport is one of the busiest airports in Nigeria and it is located in Osubi, Warri, Delta State. The airport was commissioned in 1999 but currently, the Delta state government is making plans to upgrade and build a longer second runway due to the increase in air traffic. According to research, there are over 3 airlines and over 300,000 people travel through the airport every year.

FAQs

Which is the busiest airport in Nigeria?

Top 5 busiest airports in Nigeria

• Murtala Muhammed International Airport
• Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
• Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
• Port Harcourt International Airport
• Akanu Ibiam International Airport

Which airport has the longest runway in Nigeria?

Top 3 longest runways in Nigeria

• Murtala Muhammed International Airport
• Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
• Maiduguri International Airport

Which is the oldest airport in Nigeria?

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is Nigeria’s oldest airport which was commissioned in 1936.

 

Conclusion: Top 10 Busiest Airports in Nigeria

The above-mentioned are the top 10 busiest airports in Nigeria. Even though the cost of flights has increased drastically, many people are still traveling to different destinations. Although the aviation sector has helped boost the nation’s economy, there is still room for improvement.

Thank you for reading this article, and I hope you got a lot of useful information from my post. Please drop your comment and share the post with your loved ones and friends.