Why we are spending N712bn to renovate Lagos airport – Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has explained the Federal Government’s decision to spend N712 billion on revamping the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, describing it as an essential investment to modernise Nigeria’s busiest gateway and address rising passenger demand.

Keyamo, in a statement shared on his verified X account on Sunday, said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the project last week.

The upgrade will involve a total overhaul of Terminal One, the older international terminal built in 1979, which he said has deteriorated after decades of heavy use.

According to the minister, the refurbishment will include dismantling the building down to its core structure, replacing the roof, and redesigning the space to meet modern global aviation standards. Both Wings D and E of the terminal will be covered by the works.

He added that Terminal Two—constructed with a Chinese loan and commissioned shortly after President Tinubu took office—will also be expanded. This expansion will include an enlarged apron to handle more aircraft, including wide-body planes.

To ease road access, Keyamo revealed that two separate ring roads will be constructed for arrivals and departures, along with a new bridge providing direct access to the upper floor of Terminal Two’s departure lounge. This will eliminate the need for passengers to move heavy luggage up escalators, which he described as a longstanding design flaw.

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The minister further noted that smart technology would be integrated into the redesigned facilities, positioning the airport to compete with leading global hubs.

Keyamo assured that the N712 billion project will be financed through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, created from fuel subsidy savings, with no loans involved.

He promised transparency in the process, stating that journalists, civil society groups, lawmakers, and other stakeholders will be regularly invited to inspect the site.

In justifying the expenditure, Keyamo encouraged Nigerians to compare the project cost to similar modern airport developments worldwide, including those in African countries such as Angola, adding that the Bureau of Public Procurement had carefully reviewed and approved the final figure.

His statement read in part: “Due to years of neglect & because the traffic over time quadrupled beyond its capacity, the building & facilities at Terminal One became totally decrepit. We have been engaged in some patch jobs over the years just to make it a bit presentable. Now, shorn of all the rhetoric, what we simply want to do is to totally strip down that building, including the entire roof (leaving only the carcass), then re-design/reconfigure it & build a brand-new airport for the nation to meet modern, international standards that can also cater for the increased traffic. Both wings D and E would be affected.”

He added: “We have also introduced smart solutions to the new designs in order to deliver a smart airport to Nigerians that can compete with any airport in the world. In all, Nigerians will be proud of what we are going to deliver. And take note, this will not be done by a loan from anywhere, but by the Renewed Hope infrastructure Development Fund, which is one of the gains made from the removal of subsidies.”

Keyamo also pointed out that new terminals in Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are currently underused due to lower traffic levels.

He concluded that the Lagos airport project will be a benchmark for the nation, stressing that the government is committed to delivering a facility Nigerians can be proud of.