Air travel in Nigeria has seen a major increase as more people avoid long road journeys due to rising insecurity across the country.
Newsonspot reports that the Public Relations Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Chibuike Uloka, confirmed the surge, saying that demand for flights is far higher than it was last year.
“Look at the statistics. What was demanded last year is not what we are seeing now,” he said.
Uloka explained that the growth is driven by better airline operations, more available aircraft, and a growing public preference for flying.
“The Nigerian aviation sector is improving daily,” he added, noting that many Nigerians now choose air travel for safety, convenience and business.
He acknowledged that insecurity on the roads might be influencing this shift but stressed that airlines are not taking advantage of the situation.
“We don’t try to profit from anyone’s misfortune. People may feel safer flying, but we don’t encourage that sentiment for gain.”
Uloka said airlines are currently recording full bookings and higher passenger loads compared to the same period last year. He described the increased movement as a natural result of the festive season, business activities and family reunions.
“With 230 million people, movement is unavoidable. Many Nigerians feel they’ve been away from home for too long and want to return to their families,” he said.
Air Peace spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, also confirmed that their flights are already full for the festive “Ember” period.
“The most important thing now is increasing the frequency of aircraft returning from maintenance so we can meet demand,” he said.
Across social media, many Nigerians openly express fear of travelling by road due to frequent kidnappings and attacks.
On X, user @abalu_uthman wrote on November 23, 2025:
“I used to travel by road from Lagos to Kano back in 2017–19… It’s sad that one can’t even think of travelling by road again because of the fear of being kidnapped or killed.”
An Instagram user, @darlington_oni, warned on November 19, 2025:
“Whatever you do, do not travel by road in Nigeria right now. It’s not safe. If you don’t have money for a flight, stay home. Protect your life.”
Another user, @SportPaparazzi1, posted on October 21, 2025:
“To think that in 2025, kidnapping is still high… You can’t travel by road in Nigeria with peace of mind.”
Despite high flight prices, many travellers preparing for Christmas say peace of mind is worth the extra cost.
The increase in air travel comes as kidnapping and highway attacks continue to rise nationwide, making road travel riskier. In recent years, worsening security issues have pushed many Nigerians to reconsider traditional road trips, especially during peak seasons like Christmas.
