Category: Nigerian Tribune

Dr Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo or MadMo, has emerged as the new National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, bringing to the role a background spanning entrepreneurship, social activism, creativity, scholarship and grassroots organising.

Paul is a serial entrepreneur, social activist, creativity manager, performer, scholar, organiser and thought leader with experience in developing and executing initiatives focused on human capital development.

His work has centred largely on capacity building, coaching, creative discourse and interventions aimed at promoting human ingenuity and expanding opportunities for emerging leaders.

The Abuja-based politician has also been involved in thought-leadership circles, where he engages with emerging youth leaders on approaches to public engagement, leadership and civic participation.

Beyond his professional activities, Paul is the convener of the Free Nigeria Movement, a coalition of civil society organisations, youth and women groups focused on good governance, responsible citizenship and social activism.

Through the movement, he has been involved in advocacy and programmes addressing social challenges, with emphasis on creative programming, capacity building and citizen engagement.

Paul’s emergence as National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement followed a virtual meeting of national leaders and state coordinators of the movement with the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, on September 30, 2026.

He succeeds Dr Yunusa Tanko, who previously served as National Coordinator and was subsequently appointed Special Adviser to Obi on Northern Nigeria.

Tanko’s tenure saw the movement establish offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside regional and grassroots structures across the country.

With Paul now at the helm, he is expected to coordinate the movement’s existing structures and activities as it continues its engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.

Deputy Director-General, Media and Communications of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Chief Dele Momodu, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast on Thursday, describing it as ‘uninspiring’.

Momodu, in reaction, posted on his X handle, said he watched and listened to the President’s speech on television and was not impressed, saying day meant for celebration was turned into day of lamentation.

‘Dear Mr President, please permit me to wish you Happy Independence on our 66th anniversary. I will not waste too much time Sir. I have just watched and listened to your speech on television and I must honestly say I wasn’t impressed. Today is supposed to be a day of celebration but your speech turned it into a day of lamentation,’ he said.

He faulted President’s analogy of Nigeria as cancer patient that survived on painkillers before his administration, noting that the President mentioned morphine as the drug of choice by predecessors.

‘My heart bled as you went into morbid analogy of Nigeria as being cancer patient that merely survived on pain killers before your arrival as celebrated surgeon. You specifically mentioned morphine as drug of choice by your predecessors. I’m not sure this analogy was appropriate. At time you assumed power, Nigeria probably had stage two cancer at worst. You were expected to stabilise it and not to metastasize it into stage four cancer,’ Momodu said.

He said President’s decision on fuel subsidy on first day in office was hasty and sent economy into crisis.

‘Your first prescription on day one was monumental disaster. You took no time to properly examine your patient. You were too much in a hurry to administer your jab, which automatically sent Nigeria into instant coma. And you’ve not been able to revive it. Least we expected from you was to stabilise and not to destabilise everything in sight,’ he added.

Momodu said fuel subsidy removal was a misadventure and that Nigerians expected an apology.

He listed challenges facing country, including rising debt, insecurity, poverty, and profligacy, saying renewed hope has collapsed into hopelessness.

‘Sir, your fuel subsidy stunt was misadventure. I expected apology for medical calamity. So Nigeria has made more money, amassed more loans, insecurity has increased, poverty has escalated, profligacy is palpable, politicians have remained insensitive, elections have taken priority over governance, renewed hope has collapsed into hopelessness and abject despair,’ he said.

He said Nigerians have given up on promises and may not endure endless excuses barely three months to the next elections.

‘Nigerians have mostly given up on your promises. I doubt they are able to endure and accept endless excuses barely three months to next elections. Four years may not be able to contain and solve all our problems but hope should be glaring by now,’ Momodu said.

West Africa is emerging as a major frontier for the production and trafficking of crystal methamphetamine, with Nigeria increasingly becoming a significant operational base for transnational drug networks, according to security analysts and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The development has raised concerns over the growing sophistication of drug cartels, the vulnerability of regional institutions to corruption, and the potential impact of synthetic drugs on the region’s youthful population.

Recent operations by the NDLEA have uncovered industrial-scale clandestine laboratories in forests and other locations across Nigeria, with Mexican nationals allegedly linked to some of the networks.

In June, the agency announced the dismantling of an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing it as a facility operated by a Nigerian-Mexican cartel. The discovery came weeks after another large laboratory was dismantled in Ijebu East, Ogun State.

The agency subsequently announced the arrest of a Mexican drug kingpin attempting to leave Nigeria through Lagos airport following investigations into a wider network of clandestine laboratories.

Speaking on the Panel 54 podcast, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the scale of methamphetamine production uncovered in the country had changed significantly over the years.

According to him, Nigeria confirmed its first clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in 2011, while 18 laboratories were dismantled in 2019.

‘But production continued and we are back to industrial scale facilities in 2026,’ Babafemi said.

He said the location of some of the laboratories also demonstrated that the threat was no longer confined to remote or isolated areas.

Babafemi cited the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory in the highbrow Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, Lagos, as an indication of how deeply the problem could penetrate residential communities.

The NDLEA’s recent operations support the broader picture of increasingly sophisticated production networks.

In September, the agency said a clandestine laboratory uncovered in Enugu was linked to a Nigerian-Mexican cartel and contained substantial quantities of precursor chemicals and equipment used in methamphetamine production.

The development has prompted concerns among security experts about the ability of West African countries to detect and disrupt increasingly complex transnational drug networks.

Ghanaian geopolitical and security analyst, Fidel Amakye Owusu, who featured on the Panel 54 podcast, said the volume of drugs intercepted by security agencies could represent only a fraction of the drugs successfully moved through the region.

‘Whenever you see an intercept of a kilo of a certain drug, about four kilos have gone through the system,’ Owusu said.

The podcast’s discussion examined the growth of clandestine laboratories in Nigeria, major seizures connected to Ghana and Kenya, foreign criminal networks, porous borders, corruption and the growing African market for synthetic drugs.

The expansion of methamphetamine production has also raised questions about the vulnerability of state institutions across West Africa.

Security analysts have pointed to porous borders, limited surveillance capacity and corruption as factors that can be exploited by sophisticated criminal organisations seeking to establish production and distribution networks.

There are also concerns that the region’s large and youthful population could provide a growing market for synthetic drugs, potentially creating additional public-health and security pressures.

Another concern is the possibility of links between drug-trafficking networks and existing smuggling and extremist networks operating across the Sahel.

Owusu argued that cooperation between criminal networks could create additional financing channels for armed groups while providing drug cartels with established routes for moving illicit commodities.

The convergence of drug trafficking, organised crime and insecurity is particularly significant in a region already confronting insurgency, violent extremism and cross-border criminal activity.

Intelligence sharing key to response

Owusu identified intelligence sharing among African countries as one of the critical measures required to contain the growing threat.

He argued that countries sharing borders would need to deepen cooperation between their intelligence, customs, police, military and drug-control agencies to improve the detection of trafficking routes and dismantle networks before they become entrenched.

The Panel 54 discussion also highlighted the potential role of international partners, including countries with greater naval capabilities, in disrupting maritime trafficking routes connecting Latin America and West Africa.

For Nigeria, Babafemi said international cooperation had already strengthened the NDLEA’s ability to track suspects and their networks beyond the country’s borders.

‘The agency also has broadened its network across the world globally to a point where it has access to a lot of intelligence to be able to track and monitor the movements of these people wherever,’ he said.

Babafemi added that the agency was working with international partners to track suspects who attempted to escape prosecution by moving to other jurisdictions.

The NDLEA has also acknowledged the importance of international assistance to its forensic and operational capabilities. In August, Babafemi said modern forensic laboratories and equipment supported by the United States’ International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs programme had contributed to investigations into clandestine laboratories.

The recent arrests and laboratory discoveries indicate that Nigeria’s drug-control challenge is increasingly linked to transnational organised crime rather than solely domestic drug trafficking.

The NDLEA has repeatedly warned that Nigeria will not be allowed to become a haven for international drug cartels. Following the Oyo laboratory discovery, the agency said the clustering of major laboratories in the Southwest suggested an attempt by drug networks to establish a synthetic-drug manufacturing hub in the region.

The agency has also stressed the importance of public cooperation in identifying suspicious activities around rural and forest communities.

The Panel 54 podcast’s latest episode, titled Meth in Africa, describes the issue as part of a broader expansion of methamphetamine production and trafficking across Africa and calls for stronger border technology, port security, intelligence sharing and international cooperation.

For West Africa, Getulio Moreira, a researcher for Panel 54, a Pan-African podcast based in Nairobi, argued that the challenge now extends beyond intercepting shipments. Authorities face the more complex task of identifying and dismantling the networks financing laboratories, supplying precursor chemicals, recruiting local collaborators and moving finished drugs across national borders.

With the discovery of increasingly sophisticated laboratories in Nigeria and evidence of foreign criminal involvement, the region’s drug-control agencies are confronting a rapidly evolving threat that combines organised crime, illicit finance, maritime trafficking and public-health risks.

Ogun State and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have initiated talks to revive the long-delayed Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) project in Ogun Waterside.

This marks a significant addition to the emerging $7 billion maritime and industrial development along the state’s coastline.

This development comes shortly after the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with global ports and logistics operator DP World for the creation of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and the 10,000-hectare Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.

The agreements with DP World, signed in Paris in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are anticipated to attract over $7 billion in initial investment and create more than 50,000 direct jobs. The Gateway Deep Sea Port is planned to have a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft, while the adjoining economic zone aims to support manufacturing, processing, logistics, and export-oriented industries.

During a meeting with NNPC officials in Abeokuta, Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed that the renewed interest in the LNG project would strengthen Ogun’s role as a significant industrial and energy hub.

‘Last Wednesday, we signed an MoU on the Deep Sea Port, and today we have the NNPC team here discussing the activation of the LNG plant,’ Abiodun stated.

The governor emphasised that the proposed LNG facility, which has been in planning for over three decades, could serve as a vital energy source for industries within the emerging coastal economic corridor and help meet the energy needs of the broader South-West region.

He noted the significance of reviving the project right after the agreement with DP World, pointing out that the port, marine economy, industrial zone, and LNG project could collectively create an integrated ecosystem for energy, manufacturing, maritime trade, and logistics.

‘They have come to discuss the LNG plant originally designed as OKLNG, which is intended to be located on our coastline. Now, they are bringing the project back to life,’ the governor explained.

Abiodun shared that discussions with NNPC centred on land acquisition, incentives, and other requirements needed to facilitate the project’s launch, with the state government committing to providing the necessary cooperation and guarantees.

‘They will pay for the land in the Economic Zone, and we will provide all the cooperation that this project requires. We will offer them the assistance and guarantees they need,’ he assured.

The governor estimated that the project could generate substantial employment and positive economic effects, citing the example of the NNPC facility in Bonny, Rivers State, which employs about 14,000 people. He added that the Ogun facility could supply gas to industries within the economic zone as well as to businesses and communities across Ogun and the wider South-West.

The renewed push for OKLNG enhances the energy dimension of the coastal investment corridor being developed around Ogun Waterside. The Federal Government identified the OK LNG project as part of a broader strategic corridor linking maritime infrastructure, industry, energy, and trade during the Paris signing ceremony.

Under the emerging development framework, the Gateway Deep Sea Port will provide maritime access for transporting raw materials, equipment, and finished products, while the Blue Marine Special Economic Zone will serve as the industrial and logistics platform. The LNG project is expected to fortify the energy supply needed to support gas-based industries and other businesses.

President Tinubu highlighted the integration of the port with the economic zone as an industrial ecosystem, noting that the emerging corridor would connect with the OK LNG project and other strategic infrastructure.

Governor Abiodun acknowledged that DP World’s global experience in developing ports and integrated economic zones would be crucial for realising the coastal development, noting the company’s operation of major port and economic-zone facilities worldwide.

He explained that the deep-sea port is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership framework, where private investors provide the funding and the Federal Government acts as a guarantor.

Regarding the LNG project, NNPC Group Chief Financial Officer Mr Adedapo Segun stated that the company is conducting a comprehensive review of the challenges that previously hindered the project, aiming to find lasting solutions and revitalise it.

‘We are here to engage with the Ogun State government on the project we plan to site alongside the state’s coastline,’ Segun said.

Additionally, NNPC Executive Vice President for Gas, Power, and New Energy, Mr Lekan Ogunleye, revealed that approximately 1,728 hectares will be needed for the LNG plants, utilities, storage facilities, and associated infrastructure.

The development was contained in a report on the 2027 ranking prepared by Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman, Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), following the release of the rankings on Wednesday.

Professor Okebukola said the 2027 edition ranked 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, compared with 2,191 universities in 2026.

He said Nigeria’s 29 ranked universities represented 42 per cent of the 69 institutions ranked across sub-Saharan Africa, while another 32 Nigerian universities were placed in the Reporter category, bringing the total number of Nigerian institutions engaging with the ranking to 61.

According to Professor Okebukola in a statement made available to news men in Abuja on Wednesday , Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos jointly occupied the highest Nigerian position, in the 801-1000 global band.

Covenant University improved from the 1001-1200 band in 2026, while the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos retained their positions.

He added that four other Nigerian universities, Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and the University of Ilorin, were placed in the 1001-1200 band, bringing the number of Nigerian universities in the global top 1,200 to seven.

Professor Okebukola a former Executive Secretary of the National University Commission,NUC, noted that federal universities continued to anchor Nigeria’s performance in the upper bands.

Five of the seven Nigerian universities in the top 1,200 are federal institutions: the universities of Ibadan, Lagos and Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University.

He said the number of federal universities in the top 1,200 increased from three in 2026 to five in 2027, while their share of Nigeria’s top-1,200 institutions rose from 60 per cent to 71.4 per cent.

Overall, 19 federal universities, seven state universities and three private universities were ranked in 2027.

Professor Okebukola also reported that Nigeria had the highest number of Reporter institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, with 32 universities submitting data but not meeting the requirements for inclusion in the ranked table. Sixteen of the Reporters are private universities, 12 are state-owned and four are federal.

He said the national performance showed that Research Quality was Nigeria’s strongest pillar, with a mean score of 43.3, while Research Environment and Teaching recorded weaker mean scores of 13.9 and 20.6 respectively.

Professor Okebukola identified global academic reputation as the single biggest lever for improving Nigeria’s performance, noting that reputation-related measures account for 33 per cent of the overall ranking score. He also highlighted research income, research productivity and doctoral output as important areas requiring attention.

The report recommended that Nigerian universities strengthen their global academic reputation through international conferences, joint research, visiting professors and stronger engagement with diaspora academics and alumni.

Professor Okebukola,a one time Chairman of Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN further called for improved research funding and productivity, more accurate institutional data submission, increased doctoral output, deeper international collaboration and mobility, and stronger industry engagement and patenting.

He said the 2027 results provided an important diagnostic tool for Nigeria’s higher education system and would serve as empirical input for the work of NiTERAC.

Professor Okebukola disclosed that NiTERAC had commenced the development of a national ranking for Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with the three rankings expected before December 15, 2026.

He said the national ranking was designed to complement global rankings, stimulate healthy competition among institutions and strengthen areas such as research environment, doctoral output and academic reputation.

There was a light-hearted moment at the 2026 Independence Day edition of The Platform after the Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was challenged by an audience member to answer a question on Yoruba culture and language in the indigenous language.

The incident occurred during the question-and-answer session of the event when an attendee asked Rhodes-Vivour what he would do to preserve Yoruba culture, tradition, and language if elected governor of Lagos State.

The questioner referred to a recent interview the ADC candidate had with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, expressing concern that many Yoruba children in Lagos were increasingly unable to speak the language.

‘Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, I have two questions for you. I watched your recent interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV, where you spoke about the Yoruba culture, tradition, and language. You know Lagos is Yorubaland. Now, what would you do to preserve our culture, tradition and language?’ the attendee asked.

He also cited China and India as examples of countries where children continue to speak their indigenous languages.

However, as Rhodes-Vivour began responding in English, some members of the audience protested and demanded that he answer the question in Yoruba.

The development briefly caused a stir at the venue before the ADC candidate calmed the audience and proceeded with his response, at one point speaking in Yoruba.

Rhodes-Vivour affirmed that Lagos is Yorubaland and stressed the importance of preserving the Yoruba language as a carrier of the people’s culture and heritage.

‘Let me start by saying this is Lagos; Lagos is Yorubaland. No doubt about it. Language is important, language carries the culture and heritage of our people,’ he said.

He, however, said his primary responsibility as a governorship candidate was to address issues of governance.

The ADC candidate also criticised the state’s education system, alleging that pupils had been punished for speaking Yoruba in schools despite more than two decades of APC administration in the state.

‘Today, we’ve had 20-something years of the APC governance but till now, if you speak Yoruba in primary schools or secondary school, they will say it is vernacular and they beat and punish you,’ he said.

Rhodes-Vivour subsequently urged the questioner to direct some of the concerns to representatives of the Lagos State Government who were present at the event.

In continuation of its coordinated response to the recent flooding in Ebonyi State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted an on-the-spot assessment of affected communities across several local government areas of the state to ascertain the extent of the disaster and identify the immediate needs of affected persons.

The assessment team, led by NEMA’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, visited flood-affected communities in Ohazura, Afikpo, Ivo and other areas, where several houses and farmlands were affected by the flood.

The team included the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abbani Imam Garki; Head of NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, Mrs Priscilla Maduekwe; officials of the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); and members of the Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs).

The special intervention team was deployed by the NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, to reinforce the response by the agency’s Enugu Operations Office and the state government, as well as strengthen coordination with relevant stakeholders.

The assessment provided an opportunity for the team to interact with affected residents and evaluate the impact of the flooding.

Recall that the NEMA delegation, on arrival in the state, had delivered relief materials approved by the Federal Government through the agency to provide immediate succour to persons affected by the disaster.

Receiving the relief materials, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru, expressed appreciation to NEMA for its timely intervention and continued support to the state in addressing the humanitarian consequences of the flooding.

The governor assured the delegation that the relief materials would be distributed judiciously and transparently to ensure that they reached the intended beneficiaries.

The intervention underscores NEMA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with state governments and other relevant stakeholders in providing timely humanitarian assistance, coordinating disaster response and supporting the recovery of affected communities.

Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) has strengthened its commitment to inclusive Passenger Handling services with the acquisition and deployment of a high-capacity ambulift, making it the only aviation ground handling company in Nigeria to own and operate the specialised equipment.

The ambulift is designed to provide safe, dignified and efficient embarkation and disembarkation assistance to Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM), including wheelchair users and passengers requiring stretcher support. Its hydraulic lifting system raises the enclosed cabin to aircraft-door level, enabling safe transfers, particularly at remote stands or where passenger boarding bridges are unavailable.

The acquisition builds on SAHCO’s earlier investment in Evac-Chairs, which facilitates the safe embarkation and disembarkation of passengers with reduced mobility on steps where specialised assistance is required.

Together, these investments reinforce SAHCO’s ongoing commitment to improving PRM services, passenger safety and accessibility. SAHCO›s premium customer, British Airways, also provided valuable guidance throughout the process, helping to ensure that the ambulift›s deployment, procedures and operational standards are aligned with global best practices and the expectations of international airlines.

Speaking on the development, SAHCO’s Chairman, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, said: ‘Owning and operating the ambulift means we can respond directly to the needs of passengers with reduced mobility rather than improvising. It gives our teams the right tool to do this sensitive work properly and gives passengers and their families confidence that they will be handled with care from the apron to the aircraft door.

‘SAHCO’s Managing Director/CEO, Mrs Adenike Aboderin, said the investment reflects the company’s people-first approach to service delivery and its commitment to international best practices.’

The ambulift is a significant addition to our operations and demonstrates our commitment to providing safe, dignified and professional services to every passenger, particularly those requiring additional assistance. Our investment in both the ambulift and Evac Chairs reflects our deliberate approach to strengthening our PRM handling capabilities.

‘Prior to deployment, Expavia Aviation Consultants, a UK-based aviation consultancy, provided project advisory and coordination support for the testing, commissioning, certification and training programme.

Also, Ergon Training Centre, a European GSE specialist, delivered theoretical and practical training, technical inspections and functional checks at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Following the training programme, SAHCO’s designated ambulift operators achieved certification in accordance with IATA AHM 1110 RMP 14m standards.

These interventions reinforce SAHCO’s focus on ensuring that its equipment is not only modern and fit for purpose but also operated and maintained in line with the required safety and operational standards.

The ambulift complements SAHCO’s comprehensive aviation support services, including Passenger Handling, Baggage Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling, Aviation Security Services and Premium Lounge Services.

Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Dr Abdullahi Musa, has been conferred with the Doctoral Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Human Resources and Strategic Management (CIHRSM) at an induction ceremony held in Lagos.

Speaking on the rationale for the honour, the institute’s Registrar, Dr. Minna Abell, cited Dr. Musa’s contributions to public service, human capital development, strategic management and nation-building, stressing that the award represented the Institute’s highest membership cadre.

Abell also noted that Dr Musa’s distinguished background as a scholar and administrator, coupled with his diverse experience in governance, leadership, public administration and strategic management, had effectively impacted his responsibilities at NAMA as the agency’s spokesperson.

‘In his current role, Musa has applied the depth of his academic research and scholarly experience to the strategic management of critical information, ensuring that information dissemination within the agency is strategic, effective, educative and proactive. This has strengthened the communication of NAMA’s mandate, activities and interventions to stakeholders and the flying Nigerian public,’ Abell said.

CIHRSM is a professional institution dedicated to advancing human resource development and strategic management through professional education, research, training and knowledge sharing. Its stated emphasis on ethical leadership, professionalism, integrity and excellence provides the context for the recognition of Dr. Musa, whose professional responsibilities at NAMA combine strategic communication, public administration and institutional information management.

It was a symbolic moment when the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, formally passed the hosting mantle to Senegal after Nigeria hosted the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition, in Abuja.

With the handover, attention has now shifted to Dakar, where Senegal is expected to build on the momentum generated in Abuja when it hosts the 36th ACI Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition in the country.

From 20-26 March 2027, Senegal, represented by LAS (Limak-AIBD-Summa), the operator of Blaise Diagne International Airport, is expected to organise the event.

The Abuja event, which attracted more than 500 airport professionals, policymakers, aviation experts, technology providers and other industry stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, was held from September 19 to 25, under the theme: ‘Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.’

For one week, Abuja became a meeting point for Africa’s airport operators, regulators, policymakers, technology providers and aviation professionals.

The discussions centred on some of the most consequential issues confronting the continent›s airports, including operational efficiency, digital transformation, infrastructure modernisation, sustainability, passenger experience and resilience.

FAAN’s hosting of the event also placed Nigeria’s airport management system and infrastructure under the spotlight, providing an opportunity for the country to showcase its aviation capabilities while engaging with developments taking place across the continent.

Although Senegal is now in the picture, the transition from Abuja to Dakar should not be regarded merely as the routine movement of an annual aviation conference from one host country to another.

Rather, it should represent a continuation of the conversation and, more importantly, a test of whether African airports can translate conference resolutions, technical presentations and policy discussions into measurable improvements on the ground.

ACI Africa exists to promote cooperation, professional excellence and the exchange of knowledge among airports across the continent. Its annual conference therefore provides an important platform for airport executives, regulators, policymakers and industry partners to compare experiences, examine emerging technologies and develop common approaches to shared challenges.

For Nigeria, hosting the 35th edition was an opportunity to present its airport infrastructure and aviation capabilities to the African and international airport community.

FAAN had positioned the Abuja conference as a platform for bringing together airport CEOs, civil aviation authorities, policymakers, technology innovators and other stakeholders. The programme featured high-level discussions, technical workshops, exhibitions, business-to-business engagements and sessions focusing on smart airport technologies, climate-resilient infrastructure, passenger experience, safety innovation and public-private partnerships.

For Nigeria, the discussions were particularly relevant. The country has one of Africa›s largest aviation markets and a network of airports serving major commercial and population centres. Yet, airport development continues to face familiar challenges, including infrastructure renewal, congestion at strategic gateways, passenger processing, surface access, commercial sustainability, funding constraints and the need to maintain international standards amid local economic realities.

The Abuja conference therefore offered Nigeria more than an opportunity to host an international aviation gathering. It provided a platform for Nigerian airport managers and other industry stakeholders to examine their systems against developments elsewhere in Africa and to identify areas where operational and technological improvements could be accelerated.

The real measure of Abuja, however, should not be the number of delegates who attended, the number of organisations represented or the scale of the exhibition. It should be what changes after the conference.

Having received the hosting rights, Senegal now has the opportunity to take the issues raised in Abuja and examine them within its own airport-development experience, while providing the wider African industry with another opportunity to assess what works, what does not and what can be replicated.

Abuja has passed the baton to Dakar. The responsibility now is to ensure that the baton carries forward not just the memory of a successful conference, but a measurable programme of action.