By Abdullateef Aliyu
The recent approval of N712 billion for the rehabilitation, upgrade and modernisation of the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, is generating rumpus, with aviation analysts and experts questioning it.
Stakeholders, including the opposition, are querying the timing of the project, the cost and the source of funding with some describing it as a “wasteful venture.”
The project for the reconstruction of the old terminal of the Lagos airport has been in the offing since the time of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The N712 billion, approved for the airport’s renovation project by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last Thursday, was not captured in the 2025 budget of the Ministry of Aviation, which is just N71,123,368,069. This implies that the approved cost of the contract is more than 10 times the budget of the ministry for 2025.
The government had said the project would be funded entirely through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund over a period of 22 months.
In the early days of his administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had moved the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, which was created under the administration of the late former President Buhari, from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to the Presidency and renamed it the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
There are also questions about whether the National Assembly approved the planned spending of N712.3 billion on the rehabilitation of the Lagos airport terminal.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday alleged that it was troubling that “this massive expenditure—approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025—has not received any backing from the National Assembly and it is not in any of the approved budget…”
When contacted yesterday about the position of the Senate over what the opposition party alleged was extra-budgetary funding of the airport’s terminal renovation project, the spokesman of the upper legislative chamber, Senator Yemi Adaramodu. Said he would make consultation and get back to Daily Trust, but he never did as further calls to his mobile telephone line went unanswered.
The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology, Abdullahi Idris Garba, could not be reached on his mobile telephone line, while a WhatsApp message sent to him was also not replied to.
The spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi, when contacted, did not reply to a WhatsApp message which he asked Daily Trust to send to him.
The renovation project of the Lagos airport’s Terminal One will see its Airfield lighting on Runways 18 Left and 36 Right as well as on Taxiways B and C upgraded to CAT 2 LED systems under a N44.13 billion contract with a 30-week completion period.
To further improve operations at Lagos’ airport domestic wing, the council approved the reconstruction and conversion of over 82,000 square meters of apron areas for N24.27 billion, “to be carried out in phases over approximately 17 and a half months to expand aircraft parking space and ease traffic management.”
The FEC also approved N46.39 billion for the rehabilitation of both runways and taxiways of the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, along with an upgrade of the airfield lighting to Category Two (CAT 2) standards.
The government had said that the 24-week project for the Kano airport was expected to significantly improve operational safety and reduce weather-related flight disruptions.
The council also approved N42.14 billion for airfield lighting upgrades of the Port Harcourt International Airport to CAT 2 standards.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who addressed reporters after the FEC meeting, had said the contract for the Lagos airport, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), involves a complete stripping of the old terminal down to its structural core while it would be rebuilt with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
“We have decided to strip it down to only the carcass and then do the complete M&E again.”
In addition, he said the FEC also approved the expansion of Terminal Two, including the construction of a new apron, access roads, bridges and related works.
“When combined with the Terminal One project, the total cost of all Lagos-related airport works amounted to N712.26 billion, making it one of the most significant single investments in Nigeria’s aviation sector in recent years.
“In a move to improve security at the Lagos airport, the council approved a N49.9 billion perimeter fencing project.
“The 14.6-kilometre metal fence will feature an intrusion detection system, CCTV cameras, solar-powered floodlights, and a patrol road.”
According to the minister, the security enhancements will include a modern command centre capable of detecting any movement near the fence in real-time.
It would be recalled that on March 22, 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Terminal Two of the MMIA as part of moves to decongest the old terminal built over 40 years ago.
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