Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that rehabilitating Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) will significantly boost passenger handling capacity while modernising its facilities.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to an FAQ document released on Tuesday, FAAN explained that the terminal, which has served for nearly five decades, no longer satisfies today’s aviation safety and service requirements.
As a result, the structure will be dismantled to its base and reconstructed with advanced electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and passenger service systems.
The project, handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is supervised by both the federal Ministry of Aviation and FAAN’s engineering services unit.
FAAN said, “A modern glass curtain wall will be installed to enhance aesthetics and energy efficiency.”
“The internal layout will be reconfigured to streamline passenger movement and improve commercial and office space utilisation. Departing and arriving passengers will be separated in the upgraded terminal fingers to reduce congestion and enhance operational efficiency.”
FAAN revealed that a new access road system will be introduced to ease movement for passengers being dropped off or picked up. This network will also correct the elevation difference between terminals 1 and 2.
Terminal 2 will undergo an extension of about 15,000 square metres, enabling it to handle additional wide-body aircraft.
It added, “This project is a comprehensive transformation designed to create a safe, modern, and comfortable gateway for travellers entering or departing Nigeria, while also attracting more tourism and significantly enhancing business.”
To keep operations running throughout the 22-month renovation period, FAAN said it is constructing an 8,000-square-metre temporary departure hall next to Terminal 2.
It said, “It will accommodate up to 1,500 passengers during peak hours and features three boarding gates to ensure smooth departures.”
The interim hall will also house VIP lounges, retail and dining outlets, emergency medical services, and facilities for passengers with limited mobility. Temporary road networks and clear signage are also being implemented to guide travellers.
The agency advised all international travellers to arrive at least three hours before departure and follow the displayed signs and information boards.
FAAN clarified that cargo handling at the airport will not be affected by the construction works.
It said, “All import and export cargo clearance, loading/unloading, warehousing, and logistics services will continue as normal throughout the closure of T1.”
Upon completion, FAAN stated that the restructured MMIA will process 3,840 passengers per hour up from 500 while Terminal 2 will cater for 3,200 passengers. Combined, both terminals will handle up to 17.6 million travellers annually.
The new-look MMIA will feature automated passport gates, fast check-in systems, intelligent lighting and HVAC that adjust to passenger flow, larger lounges, cultural displays, enhanced shopping areas, dual ring roads for arrivals and departures, and quicker baggage collection.
FAAN further noted that airports in Kano, Port Harcourt, and several other cities are also being upgraded with improvements to runways, taxiways, and lighting systems.
The authority said, “We are reimagining the future of MMIA.”
“This project represents both a future-focused infrastructure upgrade and a solemn commitment to every traveller. The upgraded terminal will elevate MMIA to an international platform, establishing it as a leading aviation hub in West Africa—becoming a source of national pride and meeting the highest global standards.”
To keep travellers informed, FAAN has introduced multiple communication channels, including terminal display boards, broadcast systems, official social media pages, SMS/email alerts for registered passengers, and service desks within the airport.
