The Nigerian Federal Government has allocated approximately $500 million (₦712 billion) to modernise the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed the cash-funded initiative during the Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit, establishing a 22-month completion target to upgrade the facility into a regional aviation hub.
Keyamo stated that President Bola Tinubu authorised the funds through direct treasury allocation, removing the need for external borrowing or debt financing. Approved by the Federal Executive Council, the project mandates a comprehensive structural and operational overhaul rather than routine maintenance. Contractors have already mobilised to the site following initial preparatory works.
The acceleration of the upgrade follows a recent operational disruption in February 2026, when a fire originating in an IT server room damaged critical communication systems at the airport’s older international wing. The incident injured six personnel, temporarily suspended runway operations, and required flight diversions to Abuja. The minister has since ordered the demolition of the affected structure to align with the broader reconstruction schedule.
Lagos currently operates a multi-terminal configuration at MMIA, comprising a government-managed international facility, a privately operated domestic terminal, and a recently commissioned wing equipped with self-service check-in technology. To manage long-term passenger growth, authorities are advancing development plans for the Lekki International Airport along the Lekki Free Trade Zone corridor. The proposed facility is designed to distribute aviation traffic and support regional commercial expansion.
On a national level, Keyamo also confirmed federal approval to resume construction of a second runway in Abuja. The infrastructure project, previously suspended due to regional security volatility, will restart immediately to alleviate capacity constraints at the capital’s primary airport.
The Lagos airport modernisation underscores a coordinated strategy to upgrade Nigerian aviation infrastructure and streamline domestic and international transit. Authorities will monitor contractor milestones over the next two years as part of a broader effort to align national facilities with global operational standards.
