Nigeria’s aviation sector added ₦215.6 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, with just three hubs Abuja (FCT), Lagos, and Rivers State generating more than 70 percent of the total, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The Big Three Hubs
FCT (Abuja): ₦69.88bn (32.4%)
Lagos: ₦62.64bn (29%)
Rivers: ₦22.91bn (10.6%)
Together, these three states contributed ₦150.9 billion, underscoring their dominance in Nigeria’s air transport industry.
Other Major Contributors
Beyond the top three, other states also made significant inputs:
Delta – ₦10.27bn
Kano – ₦7.41bn
Imo – ₦6.74bn
Enugu – ₦5.72bn
Edo – ₦5.17bn
Akwa Ibom – ₦4.45bn
Borno – ₦2.66bn
These top 10 states accounted for over 95 percent of the sector’s GDP output in 2023.
Low and Zero Contributions
Several states, including Abia, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara, recorded no contribution from air transport last year. Others, like Benue (₦38.54m), Jigawa (₦53.76m), Niger (₦15.09m), Kebbi (₦249.11m), and Bauchi (₦264.37m), posted minimal figures.
What It Means
The data reveals that Nigeria’s aviation economy remains highly concentrated around major travel and commercial hubs. Analysts say the dominance of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt reflects both infrastructure availability and economic activity levels in these regions.
Industry experts argue that to unlock the full potential of aviation, Nigeria must expand regional connectivity, upgrade underutilized airports, and incentivize carriers to operate beyond the dominant hubs.
