The Federal Executive Council (FEC), led by President Bola Tinubu, has approved N712.2 billion for a comprehensive overhaul of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s international terminal in Lagos. The decision, made during the FEC’s 7th meeting on Thursday, aims to transform Nigeria’s aviation hub.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, briefing State House correspondents, detailed the 22-month project, stating, “What we used to do before, where we just do some patchwork sections and all of that, the total rehabilitation would mean, just for transparency to let the public know, that we are going to strip it down to only the carcass. And then do the complete M and E again, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, everything, to have a brand-new airport.” He added, “The completion period is 22 months… And the total costs will come up to N712,258,565,482.18.”
The project follows recent airport upgrades. In December 2024, FAAN, in collaboration with United Bank for Africa, refurbished the E-wing and introduced four CNG-powered buses for passenger mobility. However, challenges persist, with FAAN announcing another closure of Runway 18R/36L in February 2025 for rehabilitation, per a memo from FAAN’s Head of Operations, Mrs. J.U. Nwosu, dated February 28, 2025, titled “Total Closure of Runway 18R/36L.” This came weeks after an 11-month runway maintenance shutdown ended.
The ambitious rebuild, set to conclude by mid-2027, underscores Tinubu’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure, though its cost may stir public debate amid economic concerns.