Flying in Nigeria: a pilot's guide
A pilot's reference for flying in Nigeria: the civil aviation authority (Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority), licensing and where to find 70 airports and the surrounding airspace.
Flying in Nigeria
Nigeria has 70 airports and airfields in our database, of which 27 have scheduled airline service. Civil aviation is overseen by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, which sets the licensing, medical and operating rules pilots must follow.
Licensing & regulations
To obtain a pilot license in Nigeria, applicants must submit a written application to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) along with necessary fees and documents at least six months before the current license expires. Pilot licences, ratings, medicals and currency are issued and regulated by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority — see the plain-English Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority summaries on this site, and always confirm current requirements with the official authority.
Major airports
- Akanu Ibiam International Airport
- Asaba International Airport
- General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport
- Kaduna International Airport
- Maiduguri International Airport
- Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
Browse all 70 Nigeria airports and the airspace around them.
Reference and flight-planning context only — not for navigation. Licensing, airspace and entry rules change; always confirm with Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the current AIP before you fly.
Nigeria aviation by the numbers
70 airfields on record (27 with scheduled service), 42 navaids.
- Small airport22
- Heliport17
- Medium airport17
- Large airport12
- Closed2
- Murtala Muhammed International Airport12,794 ft
- Bayelsa International Airport12,139 ft
- Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport11,842 ft
- Akwa Ibom International Airport11,811 ft
- Umaru Musa Yar'adua Airport11,352 ft
Counts computed from The Pilots Desk reference data (OurAirports, FAA, OpenAIP).