The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the federal government’s plan to spend over ₦712 billion on the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, describing it as an extravagant and misplaced priority.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stating that the proposed spending reflects fiscal recklessness and official insensitivity to the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
The criticism follows the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of ₦712.3 billion for the airport upgrade, as announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, after a FEC meeting in Abuja. According to Keyamo, this will be the first major rehabilitation of the airport’s old terminal since its original construction.
However, the ADC questioned the necessity and timing of the project, especially in light of pressing national challenges.
“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 remain underfunded, access to basic healthcare is a luxury, and millions are sinking deeper into poverty,” the statement read.
The party pointed out that the existing international terminal, commissioned in March 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, already boasts modern infrastructure, including:
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A 56,000-square-metre facility
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66 check-in counters
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Capacity for 14 million passengers annually
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Seven jet bridges
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Censored conveyor belt systems
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Advanced cooling and heat extraction units
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Spacious duty-free zones
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A 22-room hotel for stopovers
ADC noted that despite the terminal’s capacity, it processed only 6.5 million passengers in 2024, less than half its designed limit.
“We are left wondering if this is the same airport scheduled for another costly renovation. Either the previous APC government misled Nigerians about the facility, or the current government is about to pour an enormous sum into a project that already exists,” the party stated.
The ADC further raised concerns over the lack of legislative approval and transparency, questioning whether the project was reviewed or appropriated by the National Assembly.
“Is this now how a government spends close to a trillion naira—without appropriation, scrutiny, or the consent of the Nigerian people?” the statement asked.
The party emphasized that the ₦712 billion could instead be used for transformative national development, including:
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Building seven fully equipped teaching hospitals
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Providing free basic education across three geopolitical zones for five years
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Expanding rural electrification to thousands of communities
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Rehabilitating federal roads and bridges across the country
Calling for an immediate suspension of the project, the ADC demanded:
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A comprehensive independent audit of the proposed renovation
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A transparent breakdown of costs
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A redirection of funds toward initiatives that would directly benefit citizens
“This reckless spending amid widespread hardship and insecurity only widens the trust gap between the government and its people. It is unacceptable,” the statement concluded.
The ADC urged Nigerians to speak out against what it described as frivolous and unjustified expenditure, asserting that national priorities must align with the needs of the suffering populace.
