In a significant move to modernise Nigeria’s aviation sector, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contracts valued at ₦987 billion for the comprehensive upgrade of infrastructure across key airports in the country.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the approval following Thursday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Keyamo revealed that the massive investment will be funded under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, a financing mechanism established to deliver large-scale projects in line with the President’s transformation agenda.
“Today, it was the turn of aviation to receive the kind attention of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund,” Keyamo stated. “We are grateful that His Excellency the President is prioritising aviation for massive infrastructural upgrades across the country.”
Lagos Airport Gets Lion’s Share
The centrepiece of the funding will go to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, where Terminal One will undergo full-scale rehabilitation and modernisation.
Keyamo explained that the terminal would be stripped down to its structural frame and rebuilt with state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical systems to meet international aviation standards. The project, awarded to CCECC, the same contractor that built MMIA’s Terminal Two, is valued at ₦712.26 billion and is expected to be completed within 22 months.
Terminal Two will also be expanded to include a new aircraft apron, access roads, bridges, and other supporting infrastructure.
Air Safety and Capacity Improvements
Other major projects approved by the Council include:
- Malam Aminu Kano International Airport: Rehabilitation of both runways and taxiways, and upgrading of airfield ground lighting to Category 2 (CAT 2) to improve visibility during harsh weather.
- Cost: ₦46.39 billion
- Timeline: 24 weeks
“With the navigational aids we are bringing to Kano, aircraft can land even in very hazy conditions,” Keyamo noted, referencing the frequent harmattan disruptions to flight operations in the North.
- Port Harcourt International Airport: Similar runway and taxiway rehabilitation, alongside CAT 2 lighting upgrades.
- Cost: ₦42.14 billion
Enhanced Security Measures for Lagos
As part of heightened aviation security, FEC also approved the construction of a 14.6-kilometre perimeter fence around the Lagos airport. The fence will be equipped with CCTV cameras, solar-powered floodlights, intrusion detection systems, and patrol roads.
- Cost: Nearly ₦50 billion
- Completion Period: 24 months
Public-Private Partnership at Enugu Airport
In a strategic move to involve private capital, FEC approved the Full Business Case (FBC) for a 30-year concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, setting the stage for sustained investment and operational efficiency in the South-East.
These sweeping reforms in the aviation sector are seen as a cornerstone of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at boosting economic competitiveness, travel safety, and Nigeria’s standing in global air transport rankings.
“These upgrades are not just about aesthetics,” Keyamo said. “They are about safety, service, and positioning Nigeria’s airports as true international gateways.”
