The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to approve ₦712.3 billion for the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, describing it as wasteful and ill-timed.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the Bola Tinubu-led administration for what it called a gross misplacement of priorities under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
The approval was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday. He noted that the terminal, built several decades ago, would be undergoing its first major rehabilitation.
However, the ADC raised concerns about the rationale behind such massive spending, especially given the economic challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.
“The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the outrageous ₦712 billion airport renovation project announced by the Tinubu administration as another brazen act of fiscal recklessness and official insensitivity, which further confirms how far this APC government is removed from the reality of the suffering people of Nigeria.”
The party continued, “It is hard to understand how expending ₦712 billion into renovating an airport that already received significant upgrades in recent years makes fiscal sense in a country where public universities wallow in chronic austerity, where basic medical care, has become a luxury that only the rich can afford, where millions of Nigerians have been thrown into poverty as a result of government’s ill-conceived policies. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos remains functional and serviceable.”
While acknowledging the need for efficiency in the aviation sector, the ADC stressed that what was needed was not “another gold-plated terminal,” but broader investments across the country.
“What the aviation sector needs is not another gold-plated terminal, but proper maintenance, enhanced efficiency and the expansion of regional airports to boost real connectivity across Nigeria. Just for context, the amount of money that is being funnelled into the renovation of one airport, approximately $500 million, is the same total amount that was spent to build four new airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt in 2014 via a Chinese loan that is yet to be repaid.”
The statement referenced the new international terminal at the Lagos airport, which was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022. Media reports noted that the facility spans 56,000 square metres and features 66 check-in counters, a capacity of 14 million passengers per year, and several modern amenities.
“This same Murtala Muhammed Airport had a new international terminal that was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022. According to media reports at the time, the said facility was built on a landmass of approximately 56,000 square metres, with 66 check-in counters and had the capacity to process 14 million passengers annually.”
The ADC also highlighted features like censored conveyor belts, seven jet bridges, cooling systems, spacious duty-free areas, recreational zones, and a 22-room hotel. Yet, the party noted that in 2024, the airport handled only 6.5 million passengers—less than half its designed capacity.
“We therefore wonder if it is this same airport that is now scheduled for renovation or another one. The inescapable conclusion is either that the previous APC government had lied to Nigerians about what it did with the Lagos Airport, or the current government is about to spend such a huge amount of money on a project that already exists.”
Of greater concern, the party added, is the lack of National Assembly approval for the project.
“Perhaps even more troubling is the fact that this massive expenditure—approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025—has not received any backing from the National Assembly, and it is not in any of the approved budgets. Is this now how the government spends close to a trillion naira—without appropriation, without scrutiny, and without the consent of the Nigerian people through their elected representatives?”
The ADC demanded explanations from the presidency, asking, “under what constitutional provision is this money being spent?”
“We demand to know: under what constitutional provision is this money being spent? How did we get here, that the government of Nigeria, even in the face of extant accountability laws, is able to approve expenditure of this magnitude with no public breakdown of costs, no transparent procurement process, and no national debate?”
According to the party, the proposed ₦712 billion could instead be used for healthcare, education, and rural development.
“Let us be clear, ₦712 billion could instead deliver transformative impact by building over seven fully equipped teaching hospitals, funding free basic education across three geopolitical zones for five years, providing rural electrification to thousands of communities, or rehabilitating thousands of kilometres of federal roads and bridges.”
Concluding its statement, the ADC urged Nigerians to resist the plan, calling for a full audit and redirection of funds.
“The ADC calls on all Nigerians to reject this frivolous project. We therefore demand its immediate suspension, a full independent audit of the proposed budget, and a redirection of funds toward projects that would directly improve the lives of ordinary citizens, which should be the priority of any government.”
The party warned that unchecked spending, amid poverty and insecurity, could widen the trust deficit between government and the governed.
