ADC Demands Suspension of ₦712bn Airport Renovation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to halt the proposed ₦712 billion renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, describing it as an ill-timed and misplaced priority.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that Nigeria’s aviation sector needs better maintenance, operational efficiency, and regional airport expansion — not expensive renovations.

Abdullahi questioned the rationale behind allocating such a vast sum to a facility that already underwent a major upgrade and remains fully functional. He pointed out that the ₦712 billion (approximately $500 million) is the same amount used in 2014 to construct four brand-new airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt through a Chinese loan Nigeria is still repaying.

He recalled that a new terminal at the Lagos airport was commissioned in March 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The terminal, according to reports, spans 56,000 square metres, features 66 check-in counters, and has a processing capacity of 14 million passengers annually — yet it only served 6.5 million in 2024.

“The terminal includes jet bridges, cooling systems, and a 22-room hotel,” Abdullahi noted. “So, are we renovating the same terminal, or is there a different airport we’re not aware of?”

The ADC also questioned whether the project was approved by the National Assembly or featured in the 2025 national budget. “We demand to know under what constitutional provision this money is being spent,” Abdullahi said.

The party called for the immediate suspension of the project and an independent audit of the proposed budget, urging the government to redirect the funds to more impactful projects such as building teaching hospitals, funding free education, rural electrification, and road rehabilitation.