The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the full rehabilitation, upgrade and modernisation of International Terminal One at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, marking the centerpiece of a sweeping ₦900 billion aviation infrastructure plan across Nigeria.
The decision was announced on Thursday following the council’s meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), will strip the aging terminal down to its structural core before rebuilding it with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
The project, funded entirely through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, will be executed over a period of 22 months.
“We have decided to strip it down to only the carcass and then do the complete M&E again,” Keyamo said, emphasizing the administration’s departure from patchwork repairs toward a comprehensive overhaul of key aviation facilities.
Also in Lagos, the Council approved the expansion of Terminal Two, including the construction of a new apron, access roads, bridges, and related works.
When combined with the Terminal One project, the total cost of all Lagos-related airport works amounts to ₦712.26 billion, making it one of the most significant single investments in Nigeria’s aviation sector in recent years.
In a move to improve security at the Lagos airport, the council approved a ₦49.9 billion perimeter fencing project.
The 14.6-kilometre metal fence will feature an intrusion detection system, CCTV cameras, solar-powered floodlights, and a patrol road.
Keyamo noted that the security enhancements will include a modern command center capable of detecting any movement near the fence in real-time.
“Anyone or anything close to the fence will be detected immediately, and the location pinpointed,” he said.
The Council also greenlit upgrades at other key airports across the country. At Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, FEC approved ₦46.39 billion for the rehabilitation of both runways and taxiways, along with an upgrade of the airfield lighting to Category Two (CAT 2) standards.
The 24-week project is expected to significantly improve operational safety and reduce weather-related flight disruptions.
Port Harcourt International Airport is also set for a runway and taxiway rehabilitation, with airfield lighting upgrades to CAT 2 standards approved at a cost of ₦42.14 billion.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, airfield lighting on Runways 18 Left and 36 Right, as well as on Taxiways B and C, will be upgraded to CAT 2 LED systems under a ₦44.13 billion contract with a 30-week completion period.
To further improve operations at Lagos’ domestic wing, the council approved the reconstruction and conversion of over 82,000 square meters of apron areas.
This project, valued at ₦24.27 billion, will be carried out in phases over approximately 17 and a half months to expand aircraft parking space and ease traffic management.
In a major shift toward private sector involvement in airport management, FEC also approved the full business case for the 30-year concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
The concession includes the completion and operation of the airport’s cargo terminal by a private consortium.
Keyamo said the decision was driven by the financial strain on government resources from running smaller airports.
“Most of the smaller airports apart from the major ones are running at a loss. The profits we make from Kano, Lagos, and Abuja often go into keeping these others alive”, he explained.
He said the concession model would unlock the commercial potential of non-aeronautical revenue streams, such as conference centers and shopping malls, which generate substantial income at modern airports globally.
“That has always been the plan of this administration—to concession some airports to private individuals and entities so they can run them profitably,” Keyamo said.
To reassure stakeholders, he stressed that the process has been transparent and inclusive, particularly with regard to labour unions.
“I am not someone who ignores the unions. From the very start, I directed that they must be part of the committee,” he said, noting that labour representatives have been fully involved in the concession process.
The Aviation Minister pledged that full details of the concession—including the identities of the consortium members and financial terms—would be made public in due course.
“At the right time, we will jointly address Nigerians and disclose all necessary details to ensure full transparency,” he said.
