The Federal Government (FG), has revealed an ambitious initiative to modernize and expand the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure and improving the overall passenger experience.

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, outlined the details of the plan in a statement issued on Sunday.

He confirmed that the project’s approval was granted during last week’s Federal Executive Council meeting. Keyamo further explained that the MMIA comprises two international terminals, each with distinct histories and roles.

“To further enunciate our plans for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, let me further clarify the approval we secured from the Federal Executive Council Meeting last week.

“There are two international terminals in Lagos. Terminal One is that old building directly facing the long stretch of road leading to the airport, built and commissioned in 1979 by the Obasanjo-led military regime.

READ ALSO: Reactions As Couple Ties The Knot At Lagos Airport

“It has two wings known as Wing D and Wing E. Terminal Two is the new building on the right-hand side as you drive into the airport, started by President Jonathan’s government with a Chinese loan, completed during President Buhari’s government (with the loan), and made operational during President Tinubu’s first one month in office,” the statement read in part.

Keyamo pointed out that Terminal One has suffered from years of neglect, making its total reconstruction necessary.

“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.

“We have been engaged in some patch jobs over the years just to make it a bit presentable. Now, shorn of all the rhetoric, what we simply want to do is to totally strip down that building, including the entire roof (leaving only the carcass), then re-design/reconfigure it and build a brand-new airport for the nation to meet modern, international standards that can also cater for the increased traffic. Both Wings D and E would be affected,” he said.

The government also plans to expand the new terminal’s capacity and address design flaws that currently affect passenger convenience. “As for the new Terminal (Two), we got approval to expand the building and the apron (where aircraft park for boarding and disembarkation) in order to accommodate more aircraft, including wide-body aircraft.

“That is not all; we are constructing two new independent ring roads in and out of the airport (one for departure and one for arrival) and a bridge that will take travellers directly to the upper floor of Terminal Two departure lounge, instead of lifting our luggage up the escalators when we are departing. It is a design error we intend to correct.”

In addition to the structural improvements, Keyamo highlighted the integration of smart technologies to bring the airport up to global standards. “We have also introduced smart solutions to the new designs in order to deliver a smart airport to Nigerians that can compete with any airport in the world,” he said.

Keyamo assured the public that the redevelopment would be funded by domestic resources, specifically the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, which stemmed from the removal of subsidies. He also emphasized the commitment to transparency and encouraged public oversight throughout the project.

“In all, Nigerians will be proud of what we are going to deliver. And take note, this will not be done by a loan from anywhere, but by the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, which is one of the gains made from the removal of subsidies.

“As the work progresses, we will be inviting the press, civil society groups, members of the National Assembly, and interested Nigerians on regular tours of the facility to monitor the extent and quality of work. It is part of our national heritage and we should all rightly be interested in the final outcome,” Keyamo stated.

To justify the project’s cost and demonstrate value, Keyamo encouraged Nigerians to compare it with similar global infrastructure projects. “I will also encourage our compatriots to simply google the cost of most modern airports built around the world in the last few years (including those in Africa like Angola, etc.) and you will agree with me that the Bureau for Public Procurement that scrutinised and fixed the final cost of this project did a fantastic job for the nation,” the minister noted.

Finally, Keyamo pointed out that while new terminals in Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt were built, they currently suffer from underutilization due to limited traffic. He also invited the public to view a detailed visual presentation of the proposed developments.

“And as a final word, it is important to tell Nigerians that we also have brand-new terminals in Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt. However, presently, they are all underutilised due to the traffic that is less than thirty per cent of their capacities.

“For further explanation and transparency, we have produced a video (which I attach hereunder) that graphically explains the proposed works upon which we are embarking. I hope you find it useful,” Keyamo concluded.

For Advert, Event Coverage/Press Conference Invite, Story/Article Publication & Other Media Services
Contact Us On WhatsApp
Send Email To: citizennewsng@gmail.com
Visit Citizen NewsNG To Read More Latest And Interesting News Across Nigeria And The World