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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s plan to spend over ₦712 billion on the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, describing it as a gross misplacement of priorities.

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

Abdullahi questioned the logic of investing such a large sum in an airport that, according to him, already underwent substantial upgrades and remains fully functional.

“The proposed ₦712 billion, approximately $500 million, is equivalent to the amount used in 2014 to construct four brand-new airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt,” he said, noting that these projects were funded by a Chinese loan that Nigeria is still repaying.

He recalled that the Lagos terminal had a major facelift, with a new terminal commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022. The facility, he said, spans 56,000 square metres, houses 66 check-in counters, features jet bridges and cooling systems, and is designed to handle 14 million passengers yearly—yet only processed 6.5 million in 2024.

Abdullahi demanded clarification on whether the current renovation targets the same terminal and questioned if the project had been approved by the National Assembly or captured in the 2025 national budget.

“We demand to know under what constitutional provision this money is being spent,” he said, calling for the immediate suspension of the project and an independent audit of the proposed expenditure.

The ADC emphasized that the funds could be better used to directly benefit ordinary Nigerians, suggesting alternatives such as building teaching hospitals, providing free education across geopolitical zones, rural electrification, and critical road rehabilitation.