In a bold step to modernize Nigeria’s busiest airport, the federal government is set to carry out a complete reconstruction of the old terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The planned overhaul aims to boost the terminal’s capacity from 3 million to 20 million passengers annually, positioning it for future aviation demands.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo disclosed this in a tweet responding to commendations from UK-based chartered management consultant Dr. Dipo Awojide.
Awojide had praised the visible improvements at the airport, highlighting enhanced cleanliness, efficiency, and design.
“Kudos @fkeyamo, Lagos airport has changed for good,” Awojide remarked.
“Aircraft to welcome area looks cleaner, and the security area is well designed. My bag came out in 10 minutes. The exit to the parking area is way better. I say this as someone who has been traveling for over 15 years. This is the easiest it has been for me in Lagos.” he
While noting that “a few more cultural issues” remained to be addressed, Awojide, however, acknowledged that overall, there was significant improvement.
Keyamo welcomed the praise but struck a candid tone in his reply, saying the airport, like others across the country, remains well below international standards despite ongoing improvements.
“Thank you, @OgbeniDipo for your compliments. But our airports are still far away from global standards, I must admit. We are just making the best of the situation as we found it,” Keyamo said.
Offering critical context, the minister revealed that the old MMIA terminal, built in 1977, was originally designed for just 200,000 passengers per year. “Now, we are doing about 3 million passengers in that airport alone per annum and about 15 million nationwide per annum. See the difference!” he noted.
Highlighting the long-standing neglect of aviation infrastructure, Keyamo said the facilities have “almost collapsed” from decades of overuse. But change, he assured, is finally on the runway.
“Thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are about to embark on a total rebuilding of the old MMI Airport in Lagos to meet modern standards, with a projection of about 20 million passengers per annum,” Keyamo announced, adding that full details of the project will be unveiled to Nigerians in the coming weeks.
The planned upgrade signals a major turning point in the Tinubu administration’s aviation strategy, positioning Lagos as a true regional hub capable of competing globally. According to experts, this marks a hopeful takeoff toward a better flying experience for travellers long accustomed to bottlenecks and poor service.
SOURCE: THENATION
