FG Says N712b MMIA Upgrade A Strategic Investment To Deliver World-Class Facility
The N712.3 billion upgrade of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, will transform it into a world-class facility, the Federal Government has said.
On completion in two years, the Lagos airport will become a hub of air travel in West Africa, it said.
The project is expected to be funded entirely from the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
Both Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, at the weekend, spoke on the project which was approved last week by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The upgrade will involve a complete overhaul of Terminal 1 building of the airport, inaugurated in 1979, and the redesign of Terminal 2, which was inaugurated at the tail end of the Buhari Administration.
Also to get facelifts are the aircraft parking facilities, the aprons, the hangar, car parks, roads, and the international wing of the facilities.
The airport –Nigeria’s busiest– is responsible for 67 per cent of air passengers in the country.
Mrs. Kuku said the transformative project is designed to elevate the MMIA to meet the highest global standards.
She described the project as a future-focused initiative, which will touch virtually every critical aspect of the airport’s infrastructure.
Keyamo admonished critics of the airport terminal reconstruction to educate themselves on the global cost of building modern airports before casting aspersions on the project’s cost and scope.
Also, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, described the upgrading of facilities at international airports as a global phenomenon.
“Anyone who has travelled through the JFK airport in New York in the last three years will see extensive renovation work that is going on at the United States’ premier international airport. JFK is being renovated at the cost of $19 billion,” Ajayi tweeted yesterday on his verified X handle.
Kuku listed the gains of the remodelling as “upgrading the terminal’s external façade, interior finishes, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems to align with international standards.
“Another key component is the expansion of Terminal 2 (T2), which will be extended to accommodate more wide-body aircraft, enhancing its aircraft handling capacity. The expansion involves the extension of the boarding bridge area (finger) and apron. Existing hangars within the expansion zone will be relocated to facilitate the seamless execution of the project.”
Kuku added that the government will also construct a new road network, modern and efficient, to improve access to the airport.
She said: “This is expected to significantly ease vehicular congestion and enhance the travel experience for airport users. We will also construct a new skywalk to link the car park to Terminal 2, and a connection building to link Terminals 1 and 2.
“These additions will transform the currently separate terminals into a single, integrated complex, optimising passenger flow and airport management.”
Kuku spoke of a plan to create a temporary departure hall to maintain smooth operations during the construction and make passengers comfortable.
“This facility,” she said, “will be designed to provide a clean, organised and comfortable experience for passengers. Another key component of the grand plan is that the landscape in front of the terminal buildings will be completely overhauled to create a more welcoming environment for arriving passengers. The redesigned central square aims to reflect national pride and offer a positive first impression of the country.
“We are reimagining the future of MMIA – not just rebuilding a terminal, but elevating Nigeria’s aviation experience to global standards. The new T1 will offer faster check-in, smarter security, brighter lounges, and better shopping – all designed for you.”
Explaining that the project is more than an infrastructure upgrade, she said: “It is a solemn commitment to every traveller passing through this national gateway.”
The FAAN boss called for the understanding and support of stakeholders and the travelling public during the rehabilitation period.
“Your understanding and support today are instrumental in helping us build the MMIA of tomorrow – more vibrant, convenient, and world-class – truly the pride of the nation.”
She added: “Upon completion, the upgraded MMIA is expected to redefine air travel in the region, positioning Nigeria as a leading aviation hub in West Africa and projecting the nation’s image as one that embraces excellence and innovation in public infrastructure.”
Keyamo urged critics to acquaint themselves with the global cost of building modern airports before commenting on the project’s cost and scope.
He said the FEC approved a comprehensive overhaul of Terminal 1 of the MMIA, Lagos, after a rigorous evaluation by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
“I encourage our compatriots to simply Google the cost of most modern airports built around the world in the last few years, including those in Africa like Angola. You will agree with me that the BPP did a fantastic job for the nation in scrutinising and approving this project,” Keyamo wrote.
The minister explained that Terminal 1 has suffered years of neglect, with passenger traffic now quadruple its original design capacity.
“We have been patching up the building over the years, but it is now totally decrepit. What we are embarking on is a complete strip-down and rebuild to meet modern international standards,” he stated.
He also noted that the expansion of Terminal 2 has been approved, which includes enlarging the aircraft apron, constructing new independent ring roads for departure and arrival, and correcting design flaws by building a bridge that connects directly to the upper departure floor.
Keyamo assured Nigerians that the entire project will be executed without foreign loans.
“This is not a loan project. It will be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, one of the direct gains from subsidy removal,” he said.
To ensure transparency and public involvement, Keyamo said the ministry will be conducting regular facility tours for reporters, civil society organisations and lawmakers to inspect the progress and quality of work.
He also reminded Nigerians that while Lagos faces urgent infrastructural needs due to its high traffic, new terminals in Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are currently under-utilised at less than 30 per cent capacity.
On a television programme, Keyamo explained the motive behind the overhauling of facilities.
He said Nigeria deserves modern terminals that qualify as hubs to drive passenger traffic and improve travel experience.
He said the N712.26 billion approved for the massive upgrade of Terminal 1 was not a matter for speculation, because the BPP took time to look into the bills of quantities for the project before settling for the amount.
Keyamo said the Tinubu Administration should be applauded for its decision to carry out bold reforms through infrastructure upgrades to turn around the air transport ecosystem.
He said the proposed major upgrade of facilities at the Lagos International Airport Terminal 1 will enable Nigeria to develop a major airport hub, which will create opportunities for indigenous carriers to enhance their potential by acquiring bigger aircraft for intercontinental routes.
“The era of patchwork at major gateways such as the MMIA, Lagos, is over, because the country is set to push for the best facilities in line with global standards,” Keyamo said.
The minister said a lot of work is underway as several components of the upgrade will include a bridge linking the old terminal of the MMIA to the new terminal for a good travel experience.
He said: “Nigerians should look forward to a series of projects intended to improve the travel landscape as the Tinubu Administration has aviation as its major priority.”
He also hinted at a future expansion of facilities, including the extension of the Lagos Red Rail Line to the airport, connecting roads linking both the domestic and international terminals.
Keyamo said the government is poised to deliver smart airport terminals, which would enable indigenous carriers to expand their fleet and advance into frontier markets.
He said discussions have reached an advanced stage with private sector investors for the concession of airports, which will run efficiently and professionally.
He said the government has procured state-of-the-art equipment that will be deployed for the terminal after the upgrade to make way for a single screening and profiling of passengers.
According to him, aviation agencies are working with the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to achieve a one-stop procedure for checking and screening at the airports.
Some of the critics of the project at the weekend questioned the cost and the need for the upgrade at a time of economic difficulties.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) which jumped into the fray said: “It is hard to comprehend how renovating an already functional airport with N712 billion makes any fiscal sense in a country where public universities are chronically underfunded, where basic healthcare is a luxury for many, and where millions have been plunged into poverty by misguided policies.
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