47 airports, airstrips record 285,338 aircraft movement in 2023

A new report has revealed that Nigeria recorded 285,338 aircraft movements in 2023.

The report obtained by our correspondent indicated that the aircraft movements were recorded in 47 airports including airstrips spread across the country.

Expectedly, the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, the two busiest airports in Nigeria recorded 62 percent of the total aircraft movement in and out of Nigeria in 2023.

Daily Trust reports that the report exposed the traffic volumes in Nigeria and the workload challenges faced by airport personnel especially air traffic controllers.

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Also, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) managing most of the airports had said only three airports are viable.

The breakdown of the report showed that the domestic terminal of MMIA recorded 67,670 aircraft movements, showing 23.7 percent of the traffic, while the international wing of the same airport had 25,753 air­craft movement, indicating 9.025 percent.

In all, the two terminals at the Lagos airport had a combined total of 33 percent for 2023 while Abuja Airport recorded a combined 29 percent of aircraft move­ment within the period.

The breakdown revealed that the domestic terminal in Abuja recorded a grand total of 75,608 aircraft movements, showing 26.49 percent, while its international wing had 8,852 with 3.10 percent with­in the period.

Total traffic percentage for the two was put 29.5 percent.

While the MMIA is the busiest airport in terms of commercial flights, the Abuja recorded more private aircraft landing because of its position as the seat of power.

The report presented last week at the conference of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) also showed that airports like Ka­duna, Calabar, Sokoto, Yola, Ibadan, Katsina, Birnin Kebbi all had between 1 and 0 percent traf­fic within the period under review. ­

The report further observed the extent of workload on controllers amidst the acute personnel shortage.

Further analysis of the report indicated that Port Harcourt (do­mestic airport), had a grand total of 12,831 air­craft movements, while the international wing had 8,852 aircraft movements within the period.

The combined traffic for Port Harcourt Airport was just 5 percent.

Also, the report indicat­ed that Kano airport had a combined 4 percent traffic within the period.

Its breakdown indicated that the domestic terminal had 8,706 flights while its international wing had 2,427 movements within the peri­od. This made it just 4 per­cent air traffic movement in 2023 for the airport.

Maiduguri Airport – lo­cal and international, had a grand total of 3 percent aircraft movement in 2023, indicating 8,660 movement within the period.

The domestic terminal, according to the report, had 8,565 movements and its in­ternational wing had just 95 aircraft landing.

Enugu airport recorded a combined total of 6,212 aircraft movements in 2023, totaling 2 percent traffic. In all, Enugu airport had just 2 percent traffic in 2023.

Escravos, an airstrip in Delta State mostly used by oil firms had three percent total traffic, showing 7,556 grand total of aircraft movement within the period.

The breakdown revealed 8,706 aircraft movements for domestic flights, while the international airport recorded 2,427 within the period.

Owerri Airport had a grand total of 6,358 aircraft movement, showing 2 per­cent in all, while Ilorin In­ternational Airport also had another 2 percent grand total with 5,081 movement.

The breakdown of Ilorin air­port showed 5,081 for domes­tic and just 13 flights for its international wing.

Also, Uyo International Airport had just 2 percent aircraft in total movement in 2023 with 6,389 movements.

Asaba International Airport had 4,863 aircraft movement in the past year, showing just 2 percent of total traffic.

Benin airport also had 5,226 total grand movement in 2023, indicating just 2 per­cent of total traffic within the period.

Besides, Osubi Airport had a grand total of 3,957 aircraft movements in 2023, responsible for just 1 percent traffic within the period.

Also, Kaduna airport, domestic and international, had just 1 percent grand traf­fic of aircraft in 2023.

Other airports in the category of 1 percent were Calabar airport with 2,858; Sokoto airport, 2,405 move­ment; Ibadan, 2,656; Akure, 2,850; Jos Airport, 1,444; Yola Airport, 2,904; Finima Airstrip in Bonny in Rivers State, 1,926, and Anambra International Airport with 2,222 grand total.

Also, airport with 0 percent within the year under review were Forcados Terminal Air­port in Delta State with just 777 aircraft landing and tak­eoff; Birnin Kebbi (local and international), 615 air­craft movement; Katsina In­ternational Airport (local and domestic), 1,300 movement; Makurdi Airport, zero grand movement; Gombe Interna­tional Airport with combined total of 772 aircraft movement and Eket also had zero land­ing and taking off within the period under review.

Others with 0 percentage in 2023 were Bauchi Interna­tional Airport with a com­bined figure of 969 for local and international airports and Minna airport with 160 grand total aircraft move­ment within the period.

ATCs face increase stress level

The report indicated that traffic volumes add to the workload of air traffic controllers, adding, “Stations handling higher traffic volumes, especially with staff shortages, are prone to increased stress levels.”