Lagos Is Late to the Flying Club (Part I)

There was a time in Nigeria when any new idea could be confidently attributed to Lagos, whether it had originated there, been perfected within its bounds, or was being scaled across the region.

For many decades, Lagos was more than a mere state; it was a vibrant laboratory of innovation. It was where bold ideas were tested, refined, and ultimately transformed into models others eagerly sought to emulate. Lagos did not wait for the world, let alone the rest of the country, to determine what worked. More often than not, breakthroughs first took root and flourished in Lagos.

Yet amid this history of pioneering spirit and rapid adaptation, there is an intriguing anomaly: Lagos, the birthplace of so many innovations, has been surprisingly late to join the exclusive club of state aviation.

Over the past twenty years, Nigeria has seen the launch of more than a dozen ambitious, state-led airport projects, each reflecting a concerted effort to modernise and connect. In the last decade alone, numerous initiatives to establish state-backed airline ventures have also taken shape, underscoring a growing commitment to aviation as a vital tool.

Across the federation, governors and governing bodies have increasingly recognised aviation not merely as a means of transport but as a powerful instrument for fostering connectivity, spurring economic development, attracting investment, bolstering national prestige, and securing a prosperous future.

Yet, amidst these widespread aspirations and endeavours, Lagos, well known for its innovation, bold ambition, expansive scale, and economic dominance, has remained unexpectedly grounded, its aspirations tempered by a subtle restraint that anchors the city even as it aims for the skies.

This is unusual. Indeed, it runs counter to almost everything we know about Lagos.

For much of the period since the creation of the state in 1967, Lagos has enjoyed a reputation as Nigeria’s first among equals. Whether in finance, commerce, entertainment, technology, infrastructure, taxation, public administration, or urban development, Lagos has often led while others followed.

Yet when it comes to state airports and state aviation initiatives, Lagos has been conspicuously absent.

The irony is hard to miss. If there is one state in Nigeria that does not need to justify the idea of airports and airlines, it is Lagos. Most states have had to persuade. Lagos merely needs to count. Most states have had to forecast future demand. Lagos already lives with it. Most states have had to convince investors that people will fly. Lagos simply has to look out of the window.

Let’s face it, most states in Nigeria, in reality, do not have sufficient population, economic activity, business density, tourism, industrial presence, or international reputation to support and drive aviation demand.

As a result, they have had to adopt bold visions, planning and developing infrastructure well in advance of actual demand. To their credit, many of these states have embraced this challenge with conviction and foresight.

I have long held the conviction that no state, regardless of its poverty or apparent insignificance, is ever beyond the reach of noble aspirations, whether it is the establishment of an airport or the creation of an airline.

Often, progress and development require foresight to provide what is needed before demand becomes immediately visible. Truly, visionary planning involves laying the groundwork today for tomorrow’s prosperity. Yes, I am convinced that supply has the power to spark demand, shaping futures through the careful building of foundations.

The key issue isn’t whether a state has sufficient wealth to develop aviation infrastructure, but whether its leaders recognise opportunities others may overlook. Many states have earned credit for their vision.

If vision and perseverance justify airports elsewhere, reality should support their presence in Lagos. Lagos has many qualities that other states are still developing: a large air-travel population, a growing middle class, a significant business community, an international investment profile, a vibrant tourism and events sector, a thriving professional class, an expanding industrial base, a strong diaspora connection, and an economy that naturally drives travel demand. In most locations, airports boost economic activity.

In Lagos, the bustling heart of Nigeria, the demand for additional airports grows ever more urgent, reflecting the city’s expansive ambitions and teeming population.

Some may argue that Lagos already has the busy Murtala Muhammed Airport, a key international gateway. This is undoubtedly correct. For simplicity, I consider all airports in Ikeja as a single entity.

Yet, by analogy, London once had only Heathrow Airport. Still, the city eventually expanded its aerial gateways to include Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City Airport, and Southend, each serving different needs and destinations. Similarly, New York initially relied on JFK Airport, but over time, the city adapted and diversified its air traffic with LaGuardia and Newark airports, broadening its reach and capacity.

The point is not merely whether Lagos has an airport; rather, the question is whether a sprawling metropolis of Lagos’s magnitude should continue to depend predominantly on a single major airport system. As the years pass, this question becomes increasingly clear, and its answer grows more urgent with each dawn.

Consider the Island. Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, Eko Atlantic, and the expansive Lekki-Epe corridor now rank among the most affluent and bustling areas in Africa. These are hubs of wealth, vibrant business activity, expatriate communities, diplomatic interests, corporate headquarters, and a steady flow of discerning travellers.

Despite their prominence, many residents are compelled to endure lengthy and often unpredictable journeys, navigating a labyrinth of bridges and congested roads to reach the airport. For a city that aspires to be recognised on the global stage, this situation feels not only inconvenient but increasingly anachronistic, highlighting the urgent need for progress and refinement.

The proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport demands immediate attention and warrants swift action to realise it.  More than a mere airport, it offers a vital opportunity to redefine Lagos’s aviation landscape.

This grand development would serve the vibrant Lekki corridor, bolster the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and forge stronger links with the bustling Lekki Deep Sea Port. It promises to enable seamless business travel, enhance cargo operations, and lay the groundwork for a truly aviation-driven economic zone that can propel Lagos into a new era of prosperity.

Yet deep within the quiet chambers of vision and ambition, Lagos must summon the courage to dream even more grandly, embracing a future that surpasses all expectations and redefines what is possible. One airport stands as a symbol of what others are only beginning to build.

Lagos should not arrive late at the scene and then simply try to catch up; it must arrive differently: boldly and unmistakably distinctive.

There is a kind of student we all knew at school: the one who arrives late to class only to reveal that he is not behind at all. When questioned about his tardiness, he nonchalantly explains that he has received a double promotion and completed the previous curriculum more quickly than anyone anticipated.

In the same spirit, Lagos should aspire to join the ranks of the flying club, not merely by keeping pace, but by flying ahead and rewriting its future with confidence and distinction.

Our aim should not be merely to replicate what others have already achieved; rather, we must strive to surpass them.

Given Lagos’s immense size, vibrant population, and significant economic influence, the city-state ought to seriously contemplate a future with multiple airports.

Naturally, the Lekki-Epe International Airport comes to mind as a fitting gateway in the east of Lagos

An executive or city airport around the Eko Atlantic district could cater to business aviation, government operations, high-end travel, and the burgeoning opportunities in urban air mobility.

To the west, Badagry International Airport could bolster cargo logistics, regional connectivity, and trade along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.

Further north, an Ikorodu-Epe aviation hub could strengthen domestic and regional links while supporting the city’s ongoing metropolitan expansion.

Some of these proposals may seem ambitious today, yet Lagos itself once seemed beyond the horizon, and look where that vision has taken it. We must dream again, larger and bolder, to shape the future Lagos deserves.

Indeed, the history of Lagos is largely the story of people who refused to let present realities define future possibilities. What is certain is that the conversation can no longer be about whether Lagos needs additional aviation infrastructure. The conversation is now about how quickly Lagos can build the aviation ecosystem its population, economy, and ambitions require.

Airports, however, are only one side of the equation. Runways without aircraft are roads without vehicles. Terminals without airlines are theatres without actors. If airports are the stage, airlines are the performers. And if Lagos has been late to the airport club, its position in the airline conversation deserves equal ambition and serious scrutiny.

That, however, is a discussion for the next part of this essay

*Anthony Kila, the author of “Strategy Systems and Power in Flight: Lessons in Strategy, Leadership and Institution Building from Aviation”, is a Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development at the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS). He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU). He is the founding Chairman of Sabre Africa Travel Network.

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