Nigeria’s aviation sector is facing growing concern over rising bird strike incidents, which industry operators say are costing local airlines an estimated ₦20 billion annually and worsening an already fragile operating environment.
Bird strikes, which occur when birds collide with aircraft during take-off, landing or flight, have become increasingly frequent at major airports across the country, leading to expensive aircraft damage, emergency repairs and repeated flight disruptions.
According to industry findings, Nigerian carriers recorded more than eight major bird strike incidents between January and May 2026 alone, with operators warning that the trend is becoming one of the most serious safety and financial threats to air travel in the country.
Airlines say the impact is severe, with engine damage and structural repairs often requiring costly replacements that run into millions of dollars per incident, in addition to operational downtime and cancelled flights.
The situation is further straining an industry already battling high aviation fuel costs, foreign exchange pressure, multiple taxation, shrinking fleets and rising maintenance expenses.
Despite earlier assurances by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria that wildlife control measures were being introduced, operators say the problem has persisted and, in some cases, worsened.
Some airlines have recorded multiple incidents this year alone, with aircraft temporarily taken out of service for safety inspections and repairs, further reducing available capacity.
Industry stakeholders warn that beyond financial losses, persistent bird strikes could damage Nigeria’s aviation safety reputation, increase insurance premiums, raise aircraft leasing costs and discourage foreign investment in the sector.
Experts also note that engine repairs or replacements can cost hundreds of thousands to several million dollars depending on the severity of the damage, placing additional pressure on struggling airlines.
Aviation analysts are now calling for urgent intervention, including improved airport wildlife management, modern detection systems and better environmental control around runway areas to reduce bird activity.
They stress that without coordinated action, the recurring incidents could force airlines to scale down operations, increase ticket prices or ground more aircraft, further affecting air travel across the country.
Stakeholders say addressing the crisis will require data-driven solutions, including monitoring bird migration patterns and deploying advanced wildlife hazard management systems at airports nationwide.
