N712bn Lagos airport upgrade: Google cost of building modern airports — Keyamo tells Nigerians

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to spend N712 billion on renovating the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, urging Nigerians to compare the global costs of modern airport infrastructure before drawing conclusions.

Keyamo, in a statement posted on his verified X account on Sunday, explained that the renovation will involve a complete overhaul of Terminal One, which was commissioned in 1979 and has since become structurally weak due to years of neglect and overwhelming passenger traffic.

He stated that the facility would be stripped down to its core, including the removal of its entire roof, and redesigned into a world-class terminal that aligns with international standards. The reconstruction will affect both Wings D and E of the terminal.

The minister also noted that Terminal Two, the newer terminal completed with a Chinese loan and operational since the early days of President Tinubu’s administration, will be expanded. 

He added that the plan includes enlarging the apron to accommodate more aircraft, including wide-body jets.

Keyamo further disclosed that two new ring roads will be constructed to ease vehicular traffic. one for arrivals and another for departures.

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He also revealed that a new bridge will be built to connect directly to the upper floor of Terminal Two’s departure area, resolving existing design flaws that require travellers to manually transport their luggage up escalators.

He said smart solutions would be introduced in the redesign to position the airport competitively on a global scale.

The entire project, he noted, would be financed without loans, relying solely on the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund—resources saved following the removal of fuel subsidies.

Keyamo added that transparency would be prioritised, with regular tours of the construction site to be organised for journalists, civil society groups, and lawmakers.

Justifying the cost of the project, he called on Nigerians to research similar airport developments worldwide, including examples in African countries such as Angola.

He maintained that the Bureau of Public Procurement had thoroughly vetted and approved the final figure.

The statement partly reads, “I will also 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, etc) and you will agree with me that the Bureau for Public Procurement that scrutinised and fixed the final cost of this project did a fantastic job for the nation.”

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