L-R Tim Chen, Vice President, AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering Co. Ltd; Robert Prentice, Vice President, Textron Aviation; Captain Alex Badeh Jr, Director General, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau; Carolina Chen Lin, Marketing & Business Development Manager, AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering Co. Ltd at the Nigeria International Airshow
The maiden Nigeria International Airshow wrapped up on December 4, 2025 with AVIC‑KDN, the Chinese‑Nigerian joint venture behind the country’s airport‑management projects, declaring the three‑day event a “critical platform” for shaping the future of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, AVIC‑KDN Vice President Tim Chen highlighted the urgent need to overhaul fragmented airport operations and upgrade ageing infrastructure. “Nigeria currently serves about 16 million air travellers, with a projected eight per cent annual growth rate over the next decade,” Chen said. “The gap between what is available and what is needed is very significant, but ongoing stakeholder engagements and key partnerships give us confidence that Nigeria is on the right path to become a major destination hub on the continent and a leader in the global aviation sector.”
Chen added that modern airport‑management systems and coordinated, data‑driven solutions could close that gap, emphasizing AVIC‑KDN’s end‑to‑end capability—from design and engineering to operations and long‑term maintenance—as a ready vehicle for delivering comprehensive upgrades across all stages of airport development.
Regional Africa Manager Mengyao Ma echoed the sentiment after a day of meetings and industry exchanges. “The strong turnout of aviation professionals and decision‑makers reaffirmed the enormous potential of Nigeria’s aviation sector, provided that key opportunities are addressed with urgency and collaboration,” Ma said. “These opportunities span the airline sector’s need for new aircraft, the demand for affordable, local maintenance solutions, and the significant room for improvement across many airports seeking to increase capacity and operational efficiency.”
The AVIC‑KDN delegation also held discussions with senior government officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume, representing President Bola Tinubu, and Hon. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Both officials underscored the strategic role AVIC‑KDN can play in supporting Nigeria’s long‑term aviation ambitions.
AVIC‑KDN reiterated its readiness to contribute expertise, technology and a long‑term partnership model to help unlock Nigeria’s aviation potential, positioning the company as a key player in the country’s journey toward a more efficient, resilient and internationally competitive aviation ecosystem.
