By Sade Williams
Nigeria has expressed its readiness to host the 2026 Airport Council International (ACI) Africa’s Acrobatics Regional Conference and Exhibition by September.
Festus Keyamo,minister of aviation and aerospace development, expressed this commitment when he received a high level delegation from the ACI-Africa, including Alli Tounsi, its secretary general, who were in Nigeria to assess the level of preparedness for the regional conference.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) executives including Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku; Henry Agbebire, director, public affairs and consumer protection, and Adebola Agunbiade, director, commercials and business development, also joined the minister to receive the topshot as part of preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the regional Conference and Exhibition.
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, 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 warmly welcomed the ACI Africa Secretary General and expressed Nigeria’s full readiness to host the event.
“We accept wholeheartedly to host. Nigeria has the capacity, the infrastructure, and the commitment to deliver a world-class conference. You can count on us,” he stated.
Speaking on the nation’s preparations, 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.
“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,” she assured.
A statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister , noted that the visit marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy and further solidifies the nation’s leadership position within Africa’s aviation community.
