The League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) is set to bring government and aviation industry stakeholders together in Lagos on Thursday to address the growing challenge of balancing government revenue generation with the financial sustainability and growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

The discussion will take centre stage at the 30th Annual LAAC Conference scheduled for September 10, 2026, with the theme, “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth.”

The conference comes against the backdrop of mounting financial pressures on airlines and other aviation businesses, including multiple charges, high aviation fuel costs, foreign exchange constraints and the rising cost of aircraft acquisition and maintenance.

LAAC said the forum would examine how government could maximise revenue from the aviation sector without imposing excessive financial burdens that could undermine the viability and competitiveness of operators.

According to the conference committee, excessive financial pressure on operators could discourage investment, weaken airlines, push up airfares and ultimately affect passenger connectivity.

The conference is expected to attract the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), government officials, aviation regulators, airline operators, airport managers, investors, financial institutions, aviation professionals, labour unions and other industry stakeholders.

Beyond the issue of government charges, stakeholders are expected to examine ways of expanding aviation’s revenue base through increased passenger traffic, cargo development, tourism, airport commercialisation, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aircraft leasing and other emerging areas of the aviation value chain.

Other issues expected to feature prominently include airport infrastructure, regulatory effectiveness, aviation fuel, access to foreign exchange, aircraft acquisition and maintenance, as well as the impact of multiple charges on airlines and other operators.

Chairman of LAAC, Suleiman Idris, said the conference represented an opportunity for the aviation media to facilitate constructive engagement between policymakers and industry stakeholders on challenges threatening the sustainable development of the sector.

Idris said the media’s role extended beyond reporting developments in the industry to providing platforms for meaningful discussions capable of influencing solutions to persistent challenges.

He said, “The aviation industry cannot grow sustainably if the operators are overburdened, just as government cannot abandon its legitimate responsibility to generate revenue.”

“What is required is a balanced and sustainable framework that allows government to earn revenue while giving aviation businesses sufficient room to grow, invest and remain competitive,” he added.

Also, Chairman of the Conference Committee, Wole Shadare, said the conference would seek to move beyond identifying the challenges facing the industry by developing practical recommendations that could support policy formulation and implementation.

Shadare said the 30th edition would also provide an opportunity to assess developments in Nigeria’s aviation industry over the past three decades and the contribution of aviation correspondents to accountability, transparency and informed public discourse.

The association said the annual conference remained committed to bringing policymakers, regulators, operators and other stakeholders together to deliberate on critical industry issues and develop solutions in the national interest.

LAAC expressed optimism that the 30th conference would generate robust recommendations to support a more competitive, financially sustainable and resilient Nigerian aviation industry.

The Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHOF) has partnered with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) to establish a permanent visual display of the country’s aviation pioneers at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos.

The initiative was unveiled on Friday by the Co-convener of NAHOF, Wole Shadare, at the second induction ceremony of the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame held at Golfview Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Shadare said the permanent montage, featuring the photographs and profiles of Hall of Fame inductees, was designed to preserve Nigeria’s aviation history and ensure that the contributions of industry pioneers remain accessible to future generations.

He said travellers, aviation students and international visitors passing through MMA2 would have the opportunity to see the achievements of professionals who contributed to the development of Nigerian civil aviation.

According to him, the initiative is part of NAHOF’s broader objective of creating a permanent and institutionalised platform for documenting exceptional leadership, professional service and transformative contributions to the aviation industry.

Shadare said the need for structured historical preservation remained critical, particularly as a new generation of pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers and aviation managers take over the industry.

“If our younger generation of pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and aviation managers do not know who built the industry they inherit, they cannot fully grasp why standards must be preserved at all costs,” he said.

He stressed that the aviation industry’s current achievements were built on the foundation laid by earlier professionals, including regulators, administrators, pilots, engineers and flight operations specialists.

The second edition of the Hall of Fame inducted 18 Nigerians following what Shadare described as a rigorous selection process conducted by an independent panel of judges.

He said the 2026 class comprised distinguished regulators, administrators, captains, engineers and flight operations specialists whose contributions helped shape the country’s civil aviation industry.

The ceremony also honoured aviation professionals posthumously, with family members standing in for some of the deceased recipients.

Shadare described the recognition as more than an award, saying it represented an enduring record of the contributions and legacies of the honourees to Nigerian aviation.

He said NAHOF was established to ensure that the achievements of aviation pioneers were documented and preserved rather than lost with time.

Beyond preserving history, Shadare called for renewed efforts to strengthen the future of the sector through modern aviation training, adoption of emerging aerospace technologies and greater opportunities for young Nigerian talent.

He said Nigeria must also sustain regulatory independence, modernise navigational infrastructure and promote sustainable management models across its airport terminals if the country is to compete effectively in the global aviation industry.

Shadare further highlighted the role of aviation journalism in strengthening safety and accountability within the sector.

He said aviation journalists serve as an important link between policy implementation, industry stakeholders and the travelling public, adding that objective reporting, analytical commentary and investigative journalism contribute to safety oversight and policy transparency.

“An independent, knowledgeable, and courageous aviation press does not undermine the industry—it strengthens it,” he said.

According to him, the media must continue to demand transparency, promote best practices and ensure that safety remains non-negotiable across the aviation industry.

The ceremony was held under the theme, “The Next Generation of Aviation Leaders: Talent, Technology, and Global Competitiveness.”

The event had as Special Guest of Honour the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku.

Other dignitaries included the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Akin Olateru; Royal Father, His Royal Majesty Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaye; NAHOF Co-convener, Mr. Gboyega Adeoye; members of the independent panel of judges, aviation stakeholders and media practitioners.

Shadare congratulated the 2026 inductees and said their contributions had now been permanently recorded as part of Nigeria’s aviation heritage.

He also commended NAHOF’s partners, particularly BASL/MMA2, for supporting the initiative to preserve and showcase the history of Nigerian aviation.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has challenged Nigeria’s aviation industry to preserve the contributions of its pioneers while building a safer, more innovative and service-driven sector for future generations.

Keyamo gave the charge at the second edition of the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame induction held in Lagos, where he was represented by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku.

The minister, who was among those inducted into the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame, described the initiative as an important platform for preserving the history and contributions of individuals who helped shape the country’s aviation industry.

He said aviation development was not driven by aircraft and airports alone, but by the people whose vision, professionalism, courage, innovation and sacrifices sustained the industry, often under difficult circumstances.

Keyamo said the recognition of aviation professionals should therefore go beyond celebrating individual achievements to preserving the legacy they would leave for future generations.

“Aviation is not built by aircraft and airports alone. It is built by people,” he said.

According to him, the Hall of Fame provides an opportunity for the industry to acknowledge those whose contributions have become part of Nigeria’s aviation heritage and to inspire younger professionals entering the sector.

He said he was humbled by his own induction but viewed the honour as a renewed responsibility to continue serving the country.

“I accept this honour with gratitude, but also with a profound sense of responsibility,” Keyamo said, adding that recognition should not be regarded as the end of service but as a reminder that greater responsibility comes with the privilege of serving the nation.

The minister dedicated the honour to aviation professionals, past and present, whose dedication has continued to keep the industry moving, as well as younger Nigerians bringing new ideas, technology and aspirations into the sector.

Keyamo also highlighted the permanent Hall of Fame Montage at the MMA2 terminal in Lagos, describing it as a significant addition to the preservation of Nigeria’s aviation history.

He said the display of the faces and stories of aviation pioneers at a location visited daily by thousands of Nigerians and international travellers would provide younger generations with a direct reminder of the contributions upon which the industry was built.

The minister urged stakeholders to use the occasion to renew their commitment to developing an aviation industry defined by safety, excellence, innovation, integrity and quality service.

He congratulated the inductees and commended the organisers for ensuring that the contributions of Nigerian aviation pioneers were documented and preserved.

Keyamo expressed hope that the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame would continue to expand its role in inspiring aviation professionals and preserving the history of the industry.