Key Points

• FAAN ISO certification plan reaches full network by December.

• FAAN ISO certification plan covers both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.

• FAAN ISO certification plan aims to elevate Nigerian airports to global benchmarks.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially said that it will work to get all 21 of its airports fully ISO-certified by December 2025. The move is part of a plan to bring Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure up to global standards for quality and environmental management.

Last week, Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director of FAAN, called together a new ISO Certification Steering Committee at the agency’s Ikeja headquarters.

FAAN’s public affairs office says that the committee will be in charge of putting in place both ISO 9001 (for quality management) and ISO 14001 (for environmental management) systems at all international and domestic sites.

The certification campaign is coming at a very important time for Nigeria’s aviation industry. FAAN runs important hubs like Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, which handle most of the traffic.

FAAN hopes to get more trust from airlines and investors by using management systems that are known around the world. These systems will help the company run more smoothly, improve safety and environmental performance, and attract more business.

Why the push for certification is important for FAAN

There are a number of strategic reasons for the initiative. First, it answers long-standing worries about the quality of Nigeria’s airports’ infrastructure, the consistency of their processes, and their compliance with environmental laws. By following the FAAN ISO certification plan’s standards, the authority is showing that it is committed to making things better in a measurable way.

Second, more and more people from other countries expect airports to meet standards that are known around the world.

A certified FAAN network would make Nigeria’s reputation in the aviation industry better, help with following the rules, and possibly lead to more foreign airlines working with Nigeria and forming business partnerships.

Third, the environmental aspect (ISO 14001) of the FAAN ISO certification plan shows that people are becoming more aware of how airport operations can be more sustainable. This standard shows that FAAN is not only concerned with the number of passengers it serves, but also with lowering the amount of waste and resources it uses and the impact it has on the environment at all of its sites.

What comes next and the problems that lie ahead

Making the FAAN ISO certification plan work will mean making a lot of changes inside the company. FAAN will have to write down all of its important operational processes, train staff at several airports, improve its record-keeping and management review systems, and set up loops for continuous improvement. The new Steering Committee will be in charge of these efforts and will work with outside certifying bodies.

The short time frame could be a problem. With December fast approaching, FAAN has less than five months to make sure that all 21 airports, including smaller domestic airfields, finish gap analysis, corrective action, and external auditing. Budget problems, staffing issues, and logistical problems in the area may slow down progress.

Still, FAAN officials seem sure of themselves. The agency’s One-Stop-Shop program to help investors and make internal processes more efficient might make things a little easier. The FAAN ISO certification plan will help Nigeria’s airports compete better with other airports in the region, offer better service, and support future growth in the number of passengers.

A certified FAAN network could lower risk, make flights more reliable, and make a stronger case for adding more routes for airlines that fly in West Africa. That ripple effect could end up helping travellers, cargo operators, and the economy as a whole.

If everything goes as planned, Nigeria’s airports will not only be able to handle traffic in 2026, but they will also be doing so using internationally recognised management systems. This will be a big step forward for the country’s aviation goals.