Nigeria To Host Airports Council International Conference

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has received in audience the Secretary General of the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, Mr Alli Tounsi and assured him of Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2026 ACI conference.

Nigeria is set to host the prestigious ACI Africa’s Acrobatics Regional Conference and Exhibition next September 2026. The visit by the ACI-Africa delegation was primarily aimed at assessing the nation’s level of preparedness for the continental event.

In his remarks, Mr Alli Tounsi emphasised the strategic importance of Nigeria’s role in African aviation and the strong case for the country to host next year’s regional conference.
According to him, “Nigeria must host this next Acrobatics Regional Conference. BAGASSO is already in Nigeria, and it is only right that ACI Africa is here too.”

Responding, Keyamo expressed Nigeria’s full readiness to host the event.

According to him, “Weaccept wholeheartedly to host. Nigeria has the capacity, the infrastructure, and the commitment to deliver a world-class conference. You can count on us.”

Special adviser to the minister on media, Tunde Moshood, said in a statement that while speaking on the nation’s preparations, the MD/CEO of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, outlined several initiatives already underway to ensure a successful hosting. She revealed that although the event is tentatively scheduled for September 2026 in Abuja—with the exact date to be announced—Nigeria is taking proactive steps to meet and surpass expectations.

She noted that FAAN has already initiated discussions with a leading five-star hotel currently undergoing extensive renovations.

She said, “All hands are on deck. We are confident that we have ample time for comprehensive planning. The hotel management has assured us that their upgrades will be completed by April next year, and the facility’s standards will match the calibre of this global aviation event.”

Moshood also noted that the visit marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy, further solidifying the nation’s leadership position within Africa’s aviation community.