The government of President Bola Tinubu has approved a staggering ₦712 billion project to renovate and modernise the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
However, the project’s sum, amid government complaints of fiscal challenges and massive infrastructure deficits around the country, has triggered a flurry of questions about the project’s necessity, cost, and transparency
But justifying the project, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said, “Due to years of neglect and because the traffic over time quadrupled beyond its capacity, the building and facilities at Terminal One became totally decrepit.”
The terminal, built in 1978 and opened in 1979, was designed for 200,000 passengers. Today, it handles over 7 million annually.
Despite this, critics argue that the terminal’s expansion barely justifies the enormous cost, especially as a new terminal was commissioned in 2022.
Keyamo said the government would recover the investment in three years through MMIA’s yearly revenue of ₦200 billion. “In three years, the investment pays for itself,” he said.
He insisted the project would be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, created under the Tinubu administration after moving the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Stakeholders Question Source, Timing and Transparency
Expectedly, the new opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) labelled the project a “misplaced priority”, questioning why such expenditure was approved without National Assembly input or budgetary allocation.
“How did we get here, that the government of Nigeria can approve expenditure of this magnitude with no public breakdown of costs?” asked ADC’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The project’s cost exceeds the entire 2025 budget of the Ministry of Aviation, which stands at ₦71 billion.
Aviation experts, opposition parties, and civil rights groups like HURIWA argue the project is being railroaded through opaque processes, possibly for political motives ahead of the 2027 elections.
Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, former NCAT Rector, said, “PPPs could deliver the same infrastructure at a lower cost, with higher efficiency and accountability.“
But several officials, including legislators, failed to provide comment. “We are waiting for them. Approval is not money,” said Rasaq Saidu of ANAP. “This is a calculated attempt to mop up money for the 2027 election.”
Cost, Scope and Comparisons Raise Eyebrows
The planned renovation, awarded to CCECC, includes complete teardown of the terminal, new mechanical and electrical installations, and additional infrastructure such as a perimeter fence with CCTV and solar lighting.
The cost of the Lagos airport works, including Terminal Two upgrades, is pegged at ₦712.26 billion.
For context, in 2019, a similar project was awarded for ₦14 billion. Aviation insiders pointed out that the new figure, at the current exchange rate, equals $445 million—ten times the original estimate.
Others argue that the cost is more than the $500 million used to construct four new terminals across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt under a Chinese loan in 2013—a loan still being repaid.
“Why spend ₦712 billion on a terminal that is barely used to half its designed capacity?” the ADC asked.
FAAN MD, Olubunmi Kuku, defended the project, saying it would position MMIA as a top West African aviation hub. “The upgraded terminal will offer faster check-in, smarter security, brighter lounges, and better shopping—all built for you,” she said.
But concerns persist. No evidence of public tender or bidding has been presented. Critics claim the contract lacked transparency and failed to follow due process.
“What of the control tower? How do you want to break down that building? It is a wasteful exercise,” one former FAAN director said.
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