Aviation Minister Hosts ACI-Africa Chief as Nigeria Gears Up to Stage 2026 Regional Conference.
By Raymond Enoch
Nigeria has intensified efforts towards hosting one of Africa’s most prestigious aviation gathering, ecen as the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, on Monday received the Secretary General of Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, Mr. Alli Tounsi, in Abuja. The high-level visit is part of preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the ACI Africa Acrobatics Regional Conference and Exhibition slated for September 2026.
According to a press release issued today and signed by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that Mr. Tounsi’s visit was undertaken alongside top executives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), including the Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire; and Director, Commercials and Business Development, Adebola Agunbiade, to assess the country’s readiness for the continental event.
In his remarks during the visit, the ACI-Africa Secretary General underscored the strategic importance of Nigeria within the African aviation ecosystem and made a strong case for the country to take centre stage in hosting next year’s regional conference. “Nigeria must host this next Acrobatics Regional Conference. BAGASSO is already in Nigeria, and it is only right that ACI Africa is here too,” Mr. Tounsi declared, stressing that the nation’s growing aviation profile and infrastructure make it a natural hub for such a high-impact gathering.
Responding, Minister Keyamo warmly welcomed the ACI-Africa delegation and gave an unequivocal commitment to Nigeria’s readiness. “We accept wholeheartedly to host,” he stated. “Nigeria has the capacity, the infrastructure, and the commitment to deliver a world-class conference. You can count on us.” He noted that hosting the event would not only reinforce Nigeria’s leadership role in regional aviation but also create new opportunities for investment, tourism, and sector-wide collaboration.
Providing further insight into the country’s level of preparedness, FAAN’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, outlined several initiatives already in motion to guarantee a successful outing. She disclosed that while the ACI Africa Acrobatics Regional Conference and Exhibition is tentatively scheduled for September 2026 in Abuja, with the exact date to be announced, Nigeria is adopting a proactive approach to planning and logistics.
Mrs. Kuku revealed that FAAN has commenced advanced discussions with a leading five-star hotel in Abuja that is currently undergoing extensive renovations to meet the standards expected of a global aviation event. “All hands are on deck,” she assured. “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.”
The Abuja parley, industry observers note, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy and further cements the country’s ambition to serve as a regional hub for air transport policy, infrastructure development and commercial partnerships. By hosting the ACI Africa Acrobatics Regional Conference and Exhibition, Nigeria is expected to attract key regulators, airport operators, airlines, investors and technology providers from across the continent and beyond.
The visit of the ACI-Africa Secretary General, coupled with the strong assurances from the Aviation Minister and FAAN leadership, signals a renewed drive to position Nigeria at the forefront of aviation innovation and collaboration in Africa—setting the stage for what could become one of the most consequential aviation conferences in the region’s recent history.
