Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President, has laid out a socio-economic equation for the continent’s transport and hospitality sectors, warning that regional aviation cannot survive on infrastructure alone without the foundation of good governance and widespread economic prosperity.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the opening of the AeroWest Summit 2026 in Lagos, the former head of state challenged policymakers, airline executives, and investors to look beyond terminal buildings and route maps, targeting the root causes of underdevelopment that keep African skies underutilised.
“For aviation to fly, there must be passengers,” Obasanjo stated plainly, mapping out the interlocking chain required for industry growth. “For passengers to be available, there must be prosperity. For prosperity to exist, there must be a thriving economy. For a thriving economy to be there, there must be good governance.”
Addressing the summit’s theme—”Financing Connectivity: Unlocking Aviation and Tourism Growth in West and Central Africa”—Obasanjo
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