Lagos rolls out bold aviation and tourism vision to move West Africa's economies forward
West Africa's aviation and tourism sectors have received another rallying call for stronger collaboration, this time from one of the region's most influential economic hubs. Lagos State Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, has urged governments, airlines, investors, financiers and tourism stakeholders to unite behind a coordinated agenda that unlocks the full economic potential of aviation and tourism across the sub-region. Her remarks came at the AeroWest Summit 2026 in Lagos, held under the theme "Unlocking Aviation and Tourism Growth in West and Central Africa".
Salu-Hundeyin's message was refreshingly practical. No single player, she argued, can build a thriving aviation and tourism ecosystem in isolation. Governments, airlines, investors, financial institutions, technology firms, transport operators, hospitality businesses, the creative industry and local communities must all work together to deliver meaningful progress. Quoting renowned activist Helen Keller, she reminded delegates that "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much," a statement that captures the essence of the collaborative platform AeroWest is designed to be.
Lagos, she noted, was a natural setting for such a conversation. As Nigeria's largest economy and one of Africa's most dynamic commercial capitals, the city sits at the heart of West Africa's aviation, business and creative networks. "Lagos is a city that moves. It never sleeps. And we are deliberately building the infrastructure to help it move better," she said, pointing to a sweeping range of investments under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's administration that are moving the state from ambition to execution.
The infrastructure list is impressive. Salu-Hundeyin cited the Lagos Blue and Red rail lines, the ongoing development of the Lekki-Epe International Airport and the integration of waterways into the state's wider transport network. The state has also opened 15 waterway routes to improve mobility for residents living across the water, easing congestion on Lagos's famously busy roads. These projects are not isolated infrastructure initiatives, she stressed, but interconnected components of a broader economic strategy designed to link people, businesses and destinations more efficiently.
"An airport connects us to the world. Rail and waterways move people within the city. Ports move goods. Tourism creates experiences. And investment turns all of this into businesses, jobs and prosperity," she explained, framing Lagos as a compelling case study in integrated urban planning that other African cities may find instructive.
The commercial evidence is already visible. Lagos received more than one million tourists during the 2024 December season, underscoring the city's growing pull as a leisure, business, entertainment and cultural destination. Its December programming, rich with music festivals, cultural showcases, sports events and homecoming celebrations, complements Ghana's Detty December in cementing West Africa's growing reputation as a year-end travel powerhouse. "The responsibility is to make it easier for them to arrive, move, stay, spend and return," she added, highlighting the continuing need for investment in connectivity, transportation, hospitality and destination infrastructure.
Salu-Hundeyin was equally direct about the region's core challenge. It is no longer whether West Africa possesses attractive tourism destinations, she argued, but whether visitors can actually reach them with ease. The region boasts significant tourism assets, a young and creative population, and a vibrant cultural industry, yet inadequate connectivity continues to constrain performance. "If our destinations are world-class, why should getting to them still be difficult?" she asked pointedly.
She identified aviation financing, regional connectivity and tourism investment as the three most urgent areas requiring attention. Stakeholders were called upon to open more air routes, upgrade infrastructure, deploy smarter technology, attract private-sector capital and deepen cross-border cooperation. Importantly, she urged that AeroWest itself should become a genuine marketplace for partnerships, investment and concrete action, rather than another well-meaning talk shop.
For sub-Saharan Africa's travel trade, the message is timely and actionable. The Lagos proposition offers a template that consultants, tour operators and investors can engage with directly. Agents building itineraries into West Africa should factor in Lagos's evolving MICE capabilities, cultural tourism assets, expanding hospitality inventory and improved intra-city mobility. Corporate travel managers, meanwhile, will find growing reason to bring their clients through Lagos as the state's infrastructure investments mature.
Salu-Hundeyin summed up the aviation-tourism relationship in refreshingly simple economic terms. Aviation brings visitors, connectivity moves them, tourism gives them reasons to stay, and investment makes the ecosystem sustainable. "If we get this right, we will not merely move more people. We will move economies. We will create jobs. We will unlock destinations," she said.
Her closing challenge to delegates was one of urgency. "Together, let us use it. Let us build it. Today, not tomorrow. Now, in this room," she urged. For agents, operators and investors across the continent, this is a moment to lean into West Africa with fresh commercial focus. As Lagos positions itself as a globally competitive aviation and tourism hub, the wider region stands to benefit from every route launched, every partnership signed and every experience packaged for the next generation of African and international travellers.
