The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has explained why the Federal Government is investing ₦712 billion to renovate the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
Keyamo said the project is crucial to modernize Nigeria’s busiest airport, address aging infrastructure, and meet global aviation standards.
Terminal One to Be Fully Rebuilt
In a statement shared on his verified X account, Keyamo said the renovation will focus on Terminal One, originally commissioned in 1979. He described the building as structurally outdated due to years of neglect and overuse.
The plan includes:
Completely stripping the building to its structural frame
Removing the roof and redesigning the terminal
Rebuilding it to meet modern international standards
Covering Wings D and E of the terminal
According to Keyamo, previous patchwork efforts were no longer sustainable.
Terminal Two, completed through a Chinese loan and activated during President Tinubu’s first month in office, will also be expanded. The upgrades include:
Enlarging the apron to allow more aircraft, including wide-body jets
Building two new ring roads (separate for arrivals and departures)
Constructing a bridge to the upper departure lounge, solving a long-standing design flaw
He added that the renovation would introduce smart solutions to improve operations and enhance passenger experience.
Keyamo emphasized that the entire project is funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund. This fund was created from savings following the removal of fuel subsidies.
“We are not borrowing a kobo,” he said. “This is a homegrown investment in Nigeria’s aviation future.”
Project Oversight and Public Involvement
To ensure transparency, Keyamo revealed that:
Press, civil society groups, and lawmakers will be invited for routine inspections
Progress updates will be publicly shared
A detailed video presentation has been released to explain the scope of work
He also urged Nigerians to compare the project with similar modern airports built globally, including in Angola, to understand the scale and value of the investment.
Other Terminals Underutilized
Keyamo noted that Nigeria has new international terminals in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, but they remain underutilized, operating at less than 30% capacity.
The government aims to balance traffic across these hubs in the long term.
The N712bn Lagos Airport renovation is more than a facelift. It’s a comprehensive rebuild designed to improve efficiency, safety, and capacity, without foreign loans. With smart technology, better traffic flow, and transparent execution, Nigeria’s aviation sector is on the path to world-class standards.
