FNAC’23: Charting a pathway for aviation industry sustainability in Nigeria 

For four days, between May 15 and 18, 2023 best brains in aviation and allied industries in Nigeria would gather at International Conference Center Abuja to deliberate on the theme: Sustainability of the Nigeria Aviation industry.

This year’s conference is an offshoot of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) National Aviation Conference (FNAC) 2022 which many industry analysts described as a huge success and the needed compass for the industry, was attended both physically and virtually by over 6000 participants.

While discussions were held during FNAC 2022 on some topical issues seen as hindrance to the development of aviation businesses in the country, other important issues which are considered germane to the sustainability of the progress made are slated for further discussions at FNAC 2023.

No doubt, FNAC ’22 presented the opportunity to provide achievable solutions to most of the notable and persistent challenges in the industry, however to sustain the landmarks made with the last year’s conference, some erudite industry experts who would provide the needed pathway to sustain the gains recorded at the previous conference are lined up to successfully navigate through topics like: Sustainability of The Aviation Industry in Nigeria: The Regulators’ Perspective, Sustainability of The Aviation Industry in Nigeria: The Economics’ Perspective as well as Sustainability of The Aviation Industry in Nigeria: The Airport Operators’ Perspective.

Other perspectives to be looked into during the conference include Sustainability of The Aviation Industry in Nigeria: The Aviation Workers,
Repositioning Cargo Operations through Development of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Nigeria and Mitigating the Impact of Brain-drain in the Aviation Industry in Nigeria; others include Aviation Facilities/ Equipment Leasing and financing with The Aviation Industry as a stimulant for Economic Development

An investment forum that would help to identify potential investment opportunities in FAAN and elimination of possible impediments to their actualization especially, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), would be held during the conference.
On every topic raised, there is a panel of seasoned discussants who will be sharing their knowledge with valuable insights into how the industry can navigate the challenges and obstacles of sustainability in aviation industry.

At a time the nation is in dire need of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to shore up her foreign reserve, FNAC’23 will no doubt, provide the much awaited opportunity for upcoming cargo and passenger airports across the country to showcase their potential to prospective investors.

FAAN  and other airport operators in the country are expected to use the avenue to market their assets towards achieving commercial viability of their airports, especially the Secondary Airports; tap from innovative and smart ideas to better run facilities as well as create diversification for revenue generation of Nigeria airports beyond aeronautical income.

Other potential revenue areas like advertisement, tourism and land development will be key to this diversification.

Globally, business owners, public and private have had to think outside the box to remain afloat and that may be the main idea.

With rising number of domestic airlines making their ways into Nigerian market, many potentially viable routes which have been left untapped, would be activated leading to increased passenger traffic and to the delight of investors in agriculture, tourism, solid minerals sectors as these routes become functional.

The FNAC ’23 which organizers promised would be bigger, better and global, would cover investments and national economic development, with focus on addressing the future of Nigerian airports on safety; security; innovations; financing; leasing; sustainability and growth.