✈️ Nigeria Business Aviation Market Surges in 2025, Lagos Movements Jump Over 20%
Nigeria has emerged as the most dynamic business aviation market in sub-Saharan Africa. According to Avi-Go data, total business jet movements at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (DNMM) and Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) reached 9,743 for full-year 2025, up 18.4% from 8,232 in 2024. The number of unique registered tail numbers appearing at both airports expanded from approximately 526 to approximately 695, a 32.1% increase, with a significant volume of internationally registered aircraft entering this market. Lagos posted particularly strong growth, with movements surging 27.3% year-on-year. Leading domestic operator Anap Jets saw its Lagos movements climb from 499 to 834, a remarkable increase of 67.1%. Notably, Dubai-headquartered Empire Aviation Group ranked in the Top 5 at both airports, making the accelerating penetration of West Africa by international operators unmistakably clear. On the fleet side, the Challenger 604 recorded 34.0% movement growth at Lagos, while the Hawker 800XP posted 44.9% growth at Abuja.
Impact: Domestic operator Anap Jets has further consolidated its market position through scale advantages, but the aggressive entry of international players such as Empire Aviation Group will significantly compress the bargaining power of small and mid-sized operators. FBO ground handling resources at Lagos are facing capacity pressure, and slot coordination and parking stand availability will become the critical bottlenecks constraining further growth.
Recommendation: International operators should complete their West Africa localized support network buildout before the first half of 2026, prioritizing the securing of ground handling agreements in Lagos. Fleet acquisition decisions should focus on secondary market supply for the Hawker 800XP and Challenger 604, as demand growth for both types in Nigeria has exceeded 30%, presenting a well-defined fleet renewal window.