Travel/Tourism
Nigeria Records 54.7% Rise in International Flight Departures
By Dipo Olowookere
In 2021, the number of international flight departures through the Nigerian airports increased by 54.7 per cent to 1,109,525 from 717,261 in 2020, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In its Air Transportation Data for the full-year 2021, the stats office said the number of arrivals of international passengers into the country rose to 1,109,621 from the 690,765 achieved in 2020.
Analysis of the data by Business Post showed that as for the departure for international flights, the Murtala International Airport in Lagos was the major route for exit from Nigeria, recording 807,648 and was followed by the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja with 275,086.
As for arrivals, the Lagos Airport also topped with 787,874 and was trailed by the Abuja Airport with 289,976, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 19,804, while the Maiduguri International Airport, Borno State, recorded only 50 arrivals and 18 departures in one year.
In the year, according to the NBS, the total number of international passengers who passed through Nigerian airports stood at 2,219,146 as against the 1,408,026 passengers in 2020, representing a 57.61 per cent growth rate.
As for the total number of domestic passengers through the airports in the country last year, the stats office said it stood at 13,006,481 as against the 9,069,295 recorded in 2020, implying a 43.41 per cent growth rate.
A breakdown showed that the number of arrivals in 2021 stood at 6,533,740, which was higher compared to the 4,870,072 posted a year earlier, while the departure stood at 6,472,741 in 2021 compared with the 4,199,223 achieved in 2020.
Unlike with the international flights, the Abuja airport recorded the highest arrivals and departures at 2,363,210 and 2,395,633 respectively, followed by Lagos with 2,083,568 and 2,010,144 apiece.
The Port Harcourt airport recorded 457,860 domestic arrivals in the year under review and 442,868 domestic departures. The airport in Owerri, Imo State, recorded 289,997 arrivals and 293,467 departures, the Kano airport reported 274,172 arrivals and 271,577 departures, while the Enugu airport posted 255,855 arrivals and 252,658 departures, with the Benin airport achieving 216,503 arrivals and 216,514 departures in the period under consideration.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp Group), Transcorp Hotels Plc, has posted its unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
In the results submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, it was shown that the performance for the period was driven by disciplined cost management and continued operational excellence despite moderated revenue, with post-tax profit rising by 21 per cent to N10.5 billion from N8.7 billion in the same period of 2025.
However, due to softer market demand in its International Business segment, revenue for the period moderated to N44.4 billion from N46.9 billion in Q2 2025, though Operating Expense Margin improved by 3 percentage points, demonstrating continued operational efficiency and prudent cost management.
These results validate Transcorp Hotels’ resilience and focus on operational excellence, cost efficiency, and customer-centric innovation, reinforcing its leadership in Nigeria’s hospitality sector.
Commenting on the results, the chief executive of Transcorp Hotels, Ms Uzoamaka Oshogwe, said, “Our Q2 2026 performance reflects the resilience of our business and the disciplined execution of our strategy in a dynamic operating environment.
“While market conditions remained challenging, we continued to deliver strong profitability by staying focused on operational excellence, commercial agility, and creating exceptional experiences for our guests.
“We remain committed to strengthening our market leadership, investing strategically in our business, and delivering sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.”
Also, the Chief Finance Officer of Transcorp Hotels, Oluwatobiloba Ojediran, said, “Our disciplined approach to cost management, revenue optimisation, and operational execution delivered a 12 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax to N13.7 billion, alongside a 21 per cent growth in Profit After Tax to N10.5 billion, compared with N8.7 billion in the corresponding period last year.
“These strong financial results reinforce the resilience of our business, provide a solid platform for sustainable growth, and position us to continue investing strategically while delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”
Beyond the numbers, Transcorp Hotels continues to strengthen its portfolio of iconic assets. Transcorp Hilton Abuja remains one of the company’s flagship properties, while Transcorp Centre, one of West Africa’s largest purpose-built event and conference venues, is fast becoming a landmark for business, tourism, and world-class events in Nigeria.
Since its launch, the venue has hosted several landmark gatherings, further cementing its position as a premier venue for high-profile corporate and social gatherings.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
