The airports in Nigeria range from a Lagos hub that handles millions of passengers to quiet regional fields where a few flights land each day. Each one has its own history, its own terminal quirks and its own best use, and knowing them saves money and road time.
This list profiles the ten airports most travellers meet, then sets out every other commercial airport by city, state and code. It is a selection of the busiest and most useful, and not an official ranking.
Airports in Nigeria at a Glance
Nigeria’s federal airports authority, FAAN, says it manages 21 airports. Totals elsewhere differ, because some counts add state-owned and private airfields, cargo airports and airstrips with no scheduled flights. For a traveller, the useful number is the dozen or so with regular commercial service.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Airports managed by FAAN | 21 |
| International gateways named by FAAN | Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu |
| Busiest | Lagos, then Abuja |
| Oldest | Kano, in use since 1936 |
| Newest international designation | Uyo |
The Top 10 Airports in Nigeria
Foreign airlines concentrate on a handful of international airports in nigeria, led by Lagos and Abuja, while the rest mostly serve domestic routes.
1. Murtala Muhammed International, Lagos (LOS)
Searches for airports in nigeria lagos lead here: the country’s busiest airport, in Ikeja, named after a head of state in 1976. The original international terminal opened in 1979, and a newer international terminal with room for 14 million passengers a year has since been commissioned. Domestic flyers use the separate MMA2 terminal, a privately funded building about a kilometre away, and the two share two runways of 3,900 m and 2,743 m. Check the terminal printed on your booking before you leave home, because a wrong turn costs time in Ikeja traffic. Annual traffic has topped 6 million passengers. Our Lagos airport terminal guide explains which airline uses which terminal.
2. Nnamdi Azikiwe International, Abuja (ABV)
People searching for airports in nigeria abuja want this one, about 20 km south-west of the city centre. It has a single 3,610 m runway and a newer terminal, commissioned shortly before the pandemic and built for up to 15 million passengers a year, which stands beside the international building that opened in the early part of the century. It carries roughly five and a half million passengers annually, which puts it second only to Lagos. Our Abuja airport terminal guide covers the layout and transport links.
3. Port Harcourt International (PHC)
Located at Omagwa, Port Harcourt serves Nigeria’s oil capital and has a 3,000 m runway. A fire in the mid-2000s forced a long closure of the old building, and a new international terminal was commissioned shortly before the pandemic. It handles around 1.2 million passengers a year, a distant third behind Lagos and Abuja. Foreign carriers such as Qatar Airways and Air France and KLM fly in. Our Port Harcourt airport guide explains the setup and how to reach the city.
4. Mallam Aminu Kano International (KAN)
Kano is the country’s oldest airport, in use since 1936, when it began as a Royal Air Force station and a fuel stop on Europe to Africa routes. A 3,301 m runway handles civilian traffic, and seasonal pilgrim flights to Jeddah and Medina give the terminal some of its busiest weeks. KLM flew into Kano for more than six decades before it stopped, and today Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines keep the city on the foreign map.
5. Akanu Ibiam International, Enugu (ENU)
Enugu’s airport sits at Emene, the city’s industrial district, and has a 3,000 m runway. It closed for most of one year for renovation and expansion, and reopened in December of that same year. FAAN counts it among the five international gateways, and the everyday traffic is domestic, mainly to Lagos and Abuja.
6. Victor Attah International, Uyo (QUO)
Uyo’s airport opened in 2009 and was renamed after a former governor. It has a 3,600 m runway and a new terminal that combines domestic and international operations under one roof, designed for a million passengers. A maintenance base can service large aircraft, and Ibom Air flies from here to Accra, which makes Uyo the newest name on the international map.
7. Margaret Ekpo International, Calabar (CBQ)
Commissioned in 1983 and named after a pioneering campaigner for women’s rights, Calabar’s airport has a 2,450 m runway. It serves the Cross River capital and fills up in December, when the festive season and carnival bring visitors. Domestic flights link it to Lagos and Abuja.
8. Asaba International (ABB)
Asaba’s airport is one of the newer large airports in the south and has one of the longest runways in the region, at 3,400 m, with an instrument landing system. It sits about 8 km east of the city and also serves travellers heading across the river to Onitsha. A 30-year concession, signed in February, now governs its management, and the airport reopened about two months after a closure in its first decade.
9. Benin Airport (BNI)
Benin City’s airport began as a small airfield in the 1970s and was expanded to take larger aircraft. It lies about 7 km north-east of the city centre, with a runway of about 2,400 m. Scheduled domestic flights connect it with Abuja and Lagos.
10. Sam Mbakwe International Cargo, Owerri (QOW)
Owerri’s airport was begun in 1983 under Governor Sam Mbakwe and commissioned in July 1994. It sits in Ngor Okpala, and most flights are restricted to daylight, except pilgrim services. Cargo is part of its official name, though it handles passengers as well.
Other Airports in Nigeria and Their Location
This table doubles as a list of airports in nigeria and their location, and of airports in nigeria and their iata codes. It adds the rest of the commercial airports to the ten above.
| Airport | City | State | IATA code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibadan Airport | Ibadan | Oyo | IBA |
| Ilorin International | Ilorin | Kwara | ILR |
| Kaduna International | Kaduna | Kaduna | KAD |
| Yakubu Gowon Airport | Jos | Plateau | JOS |
| Maiduguri International | Maiduguri | Borno | MIU |
| Yola Airport | Yola | Adamawa | YOL |
| Sadiq Abubakar III International | Sokoto | Sokoto | SKO |
| Osubi Airport | Warri | Delta | QRW |
| Akure Airport | Akure | Ondo | AKR |
How Airport Codes Work
An airport in nigeria code has two forms. The IATA code has three letters and appears on tickets and boarding passes, such as LOS for Lagos and ABV for Abuja. The ICAO code has four letters and is used by pilots and air traffic control. Nigerian ICAO codes begin with DN, so Lagos is DNMM and Abuja is DNAA. When you book, check the three-letter code, because places with similar names can have different airports.
A Mental Map: Airports in Nigeria by Zone
If you search for an airports in nigeria map, it helps to picture the country in six zones.
- South West: Lagos, Ibadan and Akure.
- South South: Port Harcourt, Calabar, Uyo, Benin, Warri and Asaba.
- South East: Enugu and Owerri.
- North Central: Abuja, Ilorin, Jos, Minna and Makurdi.
- North West: Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina.
- North East: Maiduguri, Yola, Gombe and Bauchi.
The south packs several airports within a short drive of each other, so travellers there have a choice. In the north, distances are longer, and one airport can serve a very wide area. Lagos has announced plans for another airport on the Lekki side, but it is a plan and not a working airport.
Choosing the Right Airport
Match the airport to the trip before you match it to the fare.
- Flying abroad from the north: Kano is the airport with a long record of foreign service, so check it before you drive to Abuja.
- Heading to Calabar for the festive season: book early, because seats on the Calabar routes fill up fast in December.
- Travelling to Owerri after dark: remember that night operations are restricted, so a late flight may not exist.
- Going to Uyo or Asaba: both have long runways and modern terminals, so delays are more often about the flight schedule than the building.
Ask four questions before you pick. Which airport is closest to your destination by road? Which airlines serve it, and how often? What will the transfer cost? And how reliable is the road at the hour you land?
Many airports carry the word international in their name, including Calabar, Ilorin, Kaduna, Sokoto and Asaba. The label shows a design or a designation, but it does not promise regular flights to foreign cities, so look at which airlines serve the airport. Regional airports usually run only a few flights a day, so a missed flight can mean a long wait. Arrive early, carry your booking on your phone and on paper, and charge your phone before you leave. Aim to reach the airport three hours before an international flight and about 90 minutes before a domestic one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airports in Nigeria
How many airports are in Nigeria?
FAAN says it manages 21 airports. Other totals are higher because they include state-owned and private airfields and cargo airports.
Which airports in Nigeria are international?
FAAN names Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. Uyo has since been approved for international status, and several others carry the label in their names.
What is the code for Lagos airport?
The IATA code for Murtala Muhammed International Airport is LOS, and the ICAO code is DNMM.
Which is the busiest airport in Nigeria?
Lagos is the busiest, followed by Abuja.
Picking Your Gateway
Match the airport to your destination, check which airlines serve it and confirm the code before you pay. Save the three-letter codes of your departure and arrival airports in your phone notes, with the terminal, so you can quote them quickly at check-in or to a driver.
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