Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a detailed statement in defence of the government’s N712 billion (approximately $447 million) plan to overhaul the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
Amid public debate over the high cost of a massive aviation infrastructure project, Keyamo – in a statement released on Sunday and posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account – laid out a comprehensive plan, emphasising that the project is a fundamental rebuild, not a simple renovation.
Clarifying the scope of the project, Keyamo noted, “There are two international terminals in Lagos.” He described Terminal One, the older of the two, as a building that became “totally decrepit” due to “years of neglect.” He outlined the government’s approach, stating, “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.” He added that both wings of the old terminal would be affected.
The plan also addresses deficiencies at the newer Terminal Two. Keyamo stated that approval was secured “to expand the building and the Apron… in order to accommodate more aircraft, including wide-body aircraft.”
He also revealed plans to correct a “design error” by constructing new ring roads and a bridge that will “take travellers directly to the upper floor of Terminal Two Departure lounge, instead of lifting our luggage up the escalators when we are departing.” He concluded by noting that “smart solutions” have been introduced to the new designs “in order to deliver a smart airport to Nigerians that can compete with any airport in the world.”
Keyamo made a strong case for the project’s funding model, addressing concerns about foreign debt. “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,” he stated.
In a bid for transparency, the minister pledged to keep the public informed, stating, “As the work progresses, we will be inviting the Press, Civil Society groups, members of the National Assembly and interested Nigerians on regular tours of the facility to monitor the extent and quality of work.” He added, “It is part of our national heritage and we should all rightly be interested in the final outcome.” Keyamo concluded his remarks by urging critics to compare the cost of the project to others worldwide, claiming that the “Bureau for Public Procurement that scrutinised and fixed the final cost of this project did a fantastic job for the nation.”
Keyamo also added a video produced to graphically explain the proposed works to be embarked upon.
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