By modern standards, free public wifi should be an essential amenity in any international or domestic airport. In today’s hyperconnected global, travelers expect seamless access to the internet in order to stay in touch with loved one, handle business emails, or navigate foreign cities. In Nigeria, however, this expectation is not met. Only two of the 32 domestic and international airports in Nigeria, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (in Lagos) and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (in Abuja), offer free WiFi. Even at these hubs, the connection is unreliable and at worst non-functional.
Open your device in either the Lagos or Abuja Airport, and you may see network names such as “FREE WIFI FAAN/NCC”or “Glo Free Wi-Fi”. But that is usually where the experience ends. Clicking to connect may result in a portal that doesn’t load or worse, an error message. Why can’t Nigerian Airports provide this seemingly simple service by 2025? Broken connections: the backroom story
The failure to provide airport WiFi in Nigeria was not due to a lack in intention — you can get high-quality WiFi in lounges run by private companies in the airport — but rather, a complex mixture of technical, administrative, and economic challenges.
Infrastructure is a major problem. Many airport routers have become outdated or are too few to cope with the number of travellers that pass through airports every day. Without ongoing maintenance or proper network planning, connections can become bottlenecked and even stop working. Even when the signals are strong, the backend systems can fail. For example, authentication portals may not load or routers may not be connected to the internet. SSIDs are broadcast by some networks for optics only, but there is no bandwidth behind them.
The backbone of Nigeria’s internet–terrestrial fibre and microwave links–can be unreliable, especially in non-urban areas. In urban areas such as Lagos and Abuja – home to Nigeria’s international airports – inequitable telecom equipment distribution means that internet reliability is unreliable and fluctuating. It’s not surprising that routers go offline or never restart properly when there are frequent power outages and fibre cable vandalism.
Then add to that a chronic absence of accountability. In contrast to private ventures that have customer-facing service models in place, airports’ public WiFi systems often do not have a contractor assigned who is responsible for uptime and quality. It can take weeks or even years to fix something that breaks.
Investors reluctance.
WiFi isn’t free. Laying fibres, installing access points and securing bandwidth as well as maintaining uptime cost real money. The return on investment for internet service providers is murky. Free WiFi doesn’t generate revenue unless it is bundled with advertising or user analytics.
“The airport may pay initially, but they expect the service provider to find a way of making money from the service. The airport may pay for the installation and perhaps a few months’ bandwidth. This leaves service providers looking for a way of commercializing,” Ladi OKuneye, CEO at UniCloud, an infrastructure provider in the local cloud, told TechCabal.
Advertising is the most popular commercial model for public WiFi. Google and other major ad platforms will not enter into revenue-sharing agreements unless there is significant traffic, often tens of thousand users. In 2024, Nigerian Airports recorded a passenger traffic of around 15.68 million. This included 11 million domestic travelers, and 4 million international travelers. It can take many months or years to build a solid internet user base from travellers. During this time, the service provider will have to cover the cost of bandwidth and maintenance of the network without generating any revenue. To manage these ongoing costs, providers may cut back on operational costs. This often leads to a decrease in service quality.
Bad quality WiFi can damage the image of a brand if passengers associate it as failure. Nigeria’s regulatory environment is notoriously complex. ISPs might need to get approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Communications Commission and even the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. Each of these agencies has its own processes and delays. The red tape is a deterrent to all but the most persistent operators.
There’s also the issue of data monetisation. Globally, free WiFi models rely heavily on user analytics and advertising targeting. In Nigeria, however, data privacy laws are still in flux, and the lack a clear enforcement means that ISPs are reluctant to invest heavily in tracking systems, which could later be deemed uncompliant.
There is also the question of maintenance once the initial infrastructure has been provided. Rotimi Akapo, Partner and head of Advocaat Law Practice’s Telecommunications, Media, and Technology practice group, told TechCabal that someone needs to be accountable and pay the costs.
What’s the real story?
There is still confusion over which government agency has the responsibility for providing internet service at Nigerian airports. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, which owns and operates most of the airports in Nigeria, has a mandate that is primarily focused on airport operations. According to an FAAN official, who requested anonymity on the matter, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is technically responsible for managing airport internet infrastructure. In reality, both agencies rely on Internet Service Providers to install and maintain WiFi network.
The Nigerian government proposed to allocate N1.5 billion as part of its 2025 budget for improving internet connectivity at five airports in the country. Umar Ahmed Farouk will be the NAMA’s Managing director in December 2024. The restoration of WiFi service was announced at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. He urged travelers connect to the SSID “Free Airport WiFi NAMA NCC” for complimentary internet access. The passenger experience has been disappointing. Many users report that the network is rarely connected, and even when it is, the internet can be unusable. NAMA officials have not responded to multiple requests for comments. Sindy Foster, Principal Management Partner, Avaero Capital Partners an aviation consultancy, said that NAMA is responsible for managing the airspace communications, not passenger-facing WiFi. “The NCC, which regulates telecommunications in Nigeria, may be involved with public WiFi initiatives. However, it’s usually private ISPs such as Glo, Smile, and Spectranet that are contracted to build and maintain these networks.” ISPs don’t maintain quality without performance benchmarks. FAAN, which lacks digital expertise, does not prioritize connectivity projects. Renovation without connection
Ironically, despite recent renovations at many Nigerian airports – new terminals, upgraded lounges and expanded runways – the lack of WiFi is still a major omission. Lagos and Abuja airports have undergone substantial refurbishments, funded by local and international partnerships. Modernized check-in desks, improved security screening zones, and better designed passenger lounges indicate progress. The digital infrastructure has not kept pace with these visible upgrades. This disjointed, modernization sends mixed messages to travelers. A sleek terminal is of little use when a simple Google search or WhatsApp message cannot be sent without a data plan. What’s at stake
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The lack of functional WiFi is more than just an inconvenience to passengers. It also harms Nigeria’s economic potential and image. According to Foster, reliable airport WiFi can boost tourism by improving the first impressions of international visitors. It promotes digital integration by providing internet access to Nigerians without active data plans. Travel logistics are made easier for entrepreneurs and business travelers, while improved connectivity allows them to communicate better during emergencies or delays.
Offering public WiFi signals the country’s commitment towards modernization. As part of their digital transformation agendas, countries in Africa like Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa and Morocco have invested more in airport internet access. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, risks falling behind its peers if it does not follow suit. What can be achieved?
Nigeria must rethink their approach to move forward.
FAAN must first acknowledge that internet access is not a luxury anymore, but a necessity. This means either building an internal digital capability or partnering up with experienced ISPs, under SLAs that are enforceable.
Wi-Fi works in the lounges, which means connectivity isn’t a problem. It means they are being paid. Incentives provide a return on your investment. If FAAN is willing to pay, then I’m certain the WiFi will work,” Wole Abi, managing director of Equinix West Africa (operators of the MainOne submarine fiber cable) said.
In order to attract private sector investments, the government needs to offer better incentives. These include advertising rights, data reselling structures, tax holidays for telecom equipment, and even bundling duty free retail exposure with connectivity project. Public-private partnerships with shared risks and rewards can help bridge the infrastructure gap and improve service quality.
Due to the reluctance of ad platforms to share revenue, Forster recommends that ISPs display ads on captive portals, similar to the bright neon-lit boards found in airports. She said that “duty-free space access, and bundling retail exposure with services” were two of the most important factors.
Clarity is key. Only a few airports offer free WiFi today, and even fewer provide functional services. For travelers–especially international ones–that uncertainty creates stress and confusion. Transparent communication regarding the services available, their quality, as well as how to access them, can improve the user experience.
Free WiFi in Nigerian airports is a myth until these issues are addressed. It will be seen on screen, but never really connected.
