Lagos airport to become West Africa’s hub after remodeling in two years
The N712.3 billion upgrade of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, will transform it into a world-class facility, the Federal Government has said.
On completion in two years, the Lagos airport will become a hub of air travel in West Africa, it said.
The project is expected to be funded entirely from the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.Both Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, at the weekend, spoke on the project which was approved last week by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The upgrade will involve a complete overhaul of Terminal 1 building of the airport, inaugurated in 1979, and the redesign of Terminal 2, which was inaugurated at the tail end of the Buhari Administration.Also to get facelifts are the aircraft parking facilities, the aprons, the hangar, car parks, roads, and the international wing of the facilities.The airport – Nigeria’s busiest – is responsible for 67 per cent of air passengers in the country.
Mrs. Kuku said the transformative project is designed to elevate the MMIA to meet the highest global standards.
She described the project as a future-focused initiative, which will touch virtually every critical aspect of the airport’s infrastructure Keyamo admonished critics of the airport terminal reconstruction to educate themselves on the global cost of building modern airports before casting aspersions on the project’s cost and scope.
Also, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, described the upgrading of facilities at international airports as a global phenomenon.
“Anyone who has travelled through the JFK airport in New York in the last three years will see extensive renovation work that is going on at the United States’ premier international airport. JFK is being renovated at the cost of $19 billion,” Ajayi tweeted yesterday on his verified X handle.
Mrs. Kuku listed the gains of the remodelling as “upgrading the terminal’s external façade, interior finishes, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems to align with international standards”.
“Another key component is the expansion of Terminal 2 (T2), which will be extended to accommodate more wide-body aircraft, enhancing its aircraft handling capacity.
“The expansion involves the extension of the boarding bridge area (finger) and apron.“Existing hangars within the expansion zone will be relocated to facilitate the seamless execution of the project.”
Mrs. Kuku added that the government will also construct a new road network, modern and efficient, to improve access to the airport.
She said: “This is expected to significantly ease vehicular congestion and enhance the travel experience for airport users.
“We will also construct a new skywalk to link the car park to Terminal 2, and a connection building to link Terminals 1 and 2.“These additions will transform the currently separate terminals into a single, integrated complex, optimising passenger flow and airport management.”
Mrs. Kuku spoke of a plan to create a temporary departure hall to maintain smooth operations during the construction and make passengers comfortable.This facility,” she said, “will be designed to provide a clean, organised and comfortable experience for passengers.
“Another key component of the grand plan is that the landscape in front of the terminal buildings will be completely overhauled to create a more welcoming environment for arriving passengers.
“The redesigned central square aims to reflect national pride and offer a positive first impression of the country.
