International Airports in Nigeria: Full List + Locations (2024)
Last updated on August 3rd, 2023 at 08:36 pm
International airports in Nigeria are those airports in Nigeria offering custom and immigration services for passengers travelling into or going outside the country. There are many airports in Nigeria that are functional, but not all can be grouped as international airports. Some are tagged local or domestic and are located in almost all states of the federation. As it stands, Nigeria has over 31 airports as recorded by FAAN which will enable airline carriers operate in transporting both Nigerians and foreign nationals in and out of the country.
To ensure that the arrival and departure of foreign nationals and citizens safety into Nigeria, the Nigerian Immigration Service officers ensure that travelers obtain the Nigerian International Passport, which are checked at each international airport.
For whatever reason you might want to travel out, be it for education, tourism, or even work or medical purpose, having information about all Nigerian International Airports will come in handy.
HOW MANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS ARE IN NIGERIA?
Nigeria has a total number of 11 international airports currently, but five (5) out of them are fully operational to handle international flights accordingly. The airports in Nigeria that can be said to be of international standard are 5 in number.
The 5 include: Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
FULL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS IN NIGERIA (2024)
Here are all Nigeria’s international airports that are functional and their locations.
MURTALA MUHAMMED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Murtala Muhammed International Airport located in Ikeja, Lagos state is the best, busiest, and largest airport in Nigeria. It was formally known as Lagos international airport before it was renamed to its current name. It was established during the Second World War.
This international airport has both international and domestic terminal which are a kilometer apart from each other. However, both share the same runway. The domestic terminal is the old Ikeja Airport.
The airport houses the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Accident and Investigation Bureau (AIB), Arik Air and Aero Contractors.
It is also the home to the Lagos office of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). In total, the airport had been associated with about 8 accidents and incidence.
NNAMDI AZIKIWE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is the second busiest international airport in Nigeria (of course, the 2nd in the country).
It was established in 2000 but commenced operation in 2002 and it has both an International and domestic terminals which shares the same runway. This airport is said to be one of the best in the country.
PORT HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
This is an international airport in Nigeria located in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. It is the third busiest airports in Nigeria and it serves the city of Port Harcourt.
The airport only has one flight terminal which serves both domestic and international flights. However, the facilities are separate.
This airport had it name associated with 3 accidents in total out of which the Sosoliso Air crash, one of the most popular aircraft accidents in Nigeria is among.
MALLAM AMINU KANO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is the oldest airport in Nigeria; it had been in operation since 1936.
This airport before independence serves as a Royal Air Force Station. Currently, it serves both civilian and military flights though they use separate runways.
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Aminu Kano International airport has both an international and domestic wing; the airport is located in Kano state.
The bulk of international flights cater to the large Lebanese community in Kano and Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.
The airport had been associated with 3 accidents out of which one is the worst aviation disaster in the history of Nigeria (Kano Air Disaster).
AKANU IBIAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
This is the least busy of the international airports in Nigeria; it is also known as Enugu Airport and serves the capital city of Enugu and the surrounding towns.
CONCLUSION
The state of most of these airports are nothing to write home about. In fact, Murtala Mohammed International airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport are the only two which are mostly used by all.
