Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to commit N712 billion to the complete rehabilitation and upgrade of Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, describing it as a long-overdue intervention to modernise Nigeria’s busiest airport.
Keyamo said the project—approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last Thursday—will involve a comprehensive redesign and reconstruction of the ageing terminal, originally commissioned in 1979. The renovation will affect Wings D and E of the facility.
According to the minister, the terminal has become structurally unsound due to decades of neglect and the exponential rise in passenger traffic, rendering previous patchwork repairs inadequate.
“What we simply want to do is to totally strip down the old terminal building, including the entire roof—leaving only the structural carcass—and reconfigure it to meet modern international standards,” he said.
Keyamo noted that the Bureau of Public Procurement had scrutinised and approved the project cost, urging Nigerians to compare the investment with similar airport projects around the world, including those recently completed in countries such as Angola.
Beyond Terminal One, the minister disclosed that the newer Terminal Two—constructed with a Chinese loan and operational since the early days of President Bola Tinubu’s administration—will also be expanded. This includes extending the apron to accommodate more aircraft, particularly wide-body jets.
To address traffic congestion, Keyamo revealed that two new independent ring roads would be constructed for arrivals and departures, respectively, in addition to a bridge that will lead directly to the departure lounge of Terminal Two.
This, he explained, would rectify a design flaw that currently forces travellers to haul luggage up escalators.
The minister further disclosed that smart technologies will be incorporated into the terminal redesign to deliver a fully modern, world-class facility.
He emphasised that the entire project would be financed through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund—an initiative supported by savings from the removal of fuel subsidies—and would not rely on external loans.
“As the work progresses, we will invite journalists, civil society organisations, lawmakers, and interested Nigerians to conduct periodic site tours. This is part of our commitment to transparency and public accountability,” he said.
Keyamo also pointed out that other new terminals in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano remain underutilised due to low passenger volumes, adding that the Lagos terminal requires urgent expansion to meet its growing demand.
A video detailing the scope of the project was released alongside the minister’s statement, aimed at offering visual clarity and further transparency on the proposed works.
