“We’re tearing it down,” Keyamo defends Lagos airport N712bn renovation plan as ADC fumes

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has defended the plan by the Federal Government to spend N712 billion for the renovation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Keyamo defended the planned renovation of the airport in response to criticisms from many Nigerians and groups, including the opposition coalition’s African Democratic Congress, ADC.

ADC, had in a statement on Sunday said the amount budgeted was outrageous and the planned renovation a misplaced priority, considering the country’s current economic realities.

However, Keyamo said the N712 billion will be spent to remodel the Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with ₦712bn to meet world-class standards while defending the planned renovation, as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics programme on Sunday.

The Minister said the airport terminal, built over 40 years ago is now in need of total renovation as most of the facilities have become broken and outdated.

“The roof of the airport is leaking; the place is decrepit and smelly. You see people selling Indomie and all kinds of kiosks erected there. The ceilings are failing, and the carousels are not working because their parts are not in the market anymore,” he said.

He stated that the renovation of the airport that would last 22 months would turn Lagos Airport as it would involve the complete pull down of Terminal One.

“It is not a refurbishment; we are tearing it down, only the pillars will remain, the carcass, the decking. Everything will go, and they are going to redesign now.”

He added that without the rebuilding of the airport terminal, many foreign airlines would abandon the country’s route.

“Without this, some international airlines will threaten to stop flight to your country when you don’t have a good airport, a good runway, because it affects insurance because when the runways are not good, the terminals are good, the insurance will go up because they will say that place is not safe to fly to,” he said.

“As it is today, you cannot land in Lagos (local airport) and try to connect to an international flight, maybe to Ghana

“Lagos is not a hub, but that was the plan in 1977 when it was designed and in 1979 when it was commissioned. You cannot process one passenger from one terminal to another, so that has stunted the growth of the aviation sector.

‘₦712 billion could fund seven teaching hospitals’

ADC said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi while questioning the rationale behind spending ₦712 billion to renovate an airport that, according to the party, already received substantial upgrades and remains fully functional.

The party said rather than the renovation, what Nigeria’s aviation sector needs proper maintenance, efficiency, and regional airport expansion and not the planned renovation.

The party noted that the ₦712 billion could fund seven teaching hospitals, free education in three zones, rural electrification, or road rehabilitation.

According to him, the proposed sum — around $500 million — is the same amount used to construct four new airports in 2014.

“These included airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, all built with a Chinese loan still awaiting repayment,” he said.

He recalled that the same Lagos airport had a new terminal commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022.

Abdullahi said: “Reports then said the terminal sits on 56,000 square metres and features 66 check-in counters.

“It has capacity to process 14 million passengers annually, yet only handled 6.5 million passengers in 2024.

“The terminal was said to include jet bridges, cooling systems, and a 22-room hotel, among other features.”

Abdullahi asked whether it is the same airport now up for renovation or an entirely different one.

He also questioned whether the ₦712 billion project received National Assembly approval or appeared in the current budget.

“We demand to know under what constitutional provision this money is being spent,” he said.

“The ADC called for the immediate suspension of the project and a full independent audit of the proposed budget,” he said

Abdullahi said funds should be redirected to initiatives that would directly impact ordinary Nigerians’ lives.