N712BN AIRPORT RENOVATION: ADC GOOFS AS KEYAMO SAYS PROJECT MISUNDERSTOOD BY CRITICS. (PHOTO).

 N712bn airport renovation: ADC goofs as Keyamo says project misunderstood by critics

…As analysts call for forensic audit, full disclosure of contractors, contract terms

A political and industry storm is brewing over the Federal Government’s proposed N712 billion renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, with opposition parties and aviation experts calling for a forensic audit and full transparency over the scope, cost, and legality of the project.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is leading the charge against the plan, describing it as an “outrageous abuse of public funds” and accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to “re-award and re-loot” a terminal that was only recently commissioned under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Kennedy Odion, the ADC demanded a public inquiry into the renovation deal.

“Nigerians are not idiots. The Lagos airport terminal was built and commissioned just over two years ago with Chinese loans. Now the same terminal is being earmarked for N712 billion in new spending? 

“This government must come clean and stop treating the public purse as a personal ATM,” Odion said.

The party has threatened to pursue legal action and mobilise public resistance unless the government publishes complete contract details, including the names of contractors, funding mechanisms, project specifications, and evidence of due process through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

In response, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), rejected the accusations, insisting critics had misunderstood the nature of the project. He clarified that the proposed renovation targets the old international terminal, not the new one constructed with Chinese funding during Buhari’s administration.

Posting on his verified X account, Keyamo explained: “Let me state clearly: the terminal being renovated is the old MMIA terminal, not the new one constructed with Chinese loans.

“The new terminal built by the Chinese under Buhari cannot fully accommodate wide-bodied aircraft because of a design flaw. We are fixing that while also refurbishing the old terminal to meet modern standards.”

He further explained that the N712 billion is not coming directly from the federal treasury but forms part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in which private investors will fund the overhaul and recoup their investment over time.

“This is a PPP arrangement. The amount being quoted is not a direct government expenditure. These distortions are being peddled either out of ignorance or mischief,” Keyamo said.

However, the aviation sector remains sceptical. Industry consultant and retired pilot Captain Ayo Omotayo said that whether the project is privately funded or not, the public deserves to see the full details of the agreement.

“The question is, what exactly are they spending N712 billion on? Even if it’s the old terminal, where is the breakdown? What consultancy fees, construction timelines, and returns are projected? Nigerians must stop accepting vague explanations for massive expenditures,” he said.

A senior official at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who asked not to be named, expressed concern that the proposed spending had come as a surprise to many within the agency.

“To be honest, we were surprised by the size and suddenness of the N712 billion figure. Yes, the old terminal needs refurbishment, but the scale and urgency being pushed from Abuja seem politically driven. FAAN has not been fully carried along,” the official said.

The controversy is also drawing attention in the National Assembly, where some lawmakers are reportedly preparing to call for a public hearing once plenary resumes. They aim to scrutinise whether the project followed appropriate legal and financial procedures.

Dr Mojisola Adebiyi, a public finance analyst and Director at the Centre for Fiscal Transparency, raised alarm over the lack of openness surrounding the deal.

“There is too much history of inflated airport contracts in Nigeria. We need a detailed project paper, public tenders, and transparent contract terms. If not, this will go down as another white elephant project enriching a few while the nation bleeds,” Adebiyi warned.

Civil society organisations and commentators on social media have joined the criticism, questioning why such a costly infrastructure project is being prioritised at a time of worsening inflation, a deepening debt crisis, unpaid salaries, and widespread economic hardship.

Despite reassurances from the Aviation Minister, the ADC and other voices are calling for an immediate halt to the project until all stakeholders, including the National Assembly, aviation unions, and the Nigerian public, are properly informed and consulted.

“No more government by secrecy,” Odion said. 

“We cannot be struggling to pay workers, borrow to fund the budget, and still find N712 billion for a terminal facelift without telling Nigerians who signed what, who is earning what, and what we are getting in return.”