Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Federal Government is working with the Lagos State Government to extend the state’s rail network to major airport terminals in Lagos to improve connectivity and ease passenger movement.
Gatekeepers News reports that Keyamo, while speaking on Monday at the opening of the Invest Lagos 3.0 Summit in Lagos, said the proposed rail extension would connect Ikeja to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MM2), and the international terminal.
According to the minister, the project is part of broader efforts to strengthen multimodal transportation and reinforce Lagos’ position as a leading aviation hub in Africa.
“Lagos is ready for the next big step in aviation development,” Keyamo said. “The rail extension project will further enhance connectivity and support the state’s growing status as a regional aviation hub.”
He also highlighted ongoing investments in aviation infrastructure, revealing that President Bola Tinubu has approved a $500 million investment for the comprehensive reconstruction and modernisation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
“This is not borrowed money. It is an investment from the nation’s resources aimed at transforming a fifty-year-old airport into a world-class aviation hub,” he said.
“Within the next twenty-two months, Nigerians and visitors alike will witness a remarkable transformation that will make us all proud.”
Keyamo reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to promoting private sector participation in the aviation industry and resolving long-standing investment challenges.
Describing Lagos as Nigeria’s foremost aviation gateway, the minister noted that the state accounts for about 67 per cent of international passenger traffic into the country. He added that Lagos enjoys a strategic geographical advantage that positions it to become a major aviation hub on the continent.
“Within approximately six hours, travellers can reach Europe, the Middle East, Southern Africa and South America. This geographical advantage makes Lagos ideally suited to serve as a central hub connecting Africa with the rest of the world,” Keyamo said.
The minister expressed confidence that ongoing reforms and infrastructure investments would enable Lagos to compete with established African aviation hubs, including Addis Ababa and Togo.
He also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for implementing investor-friendly policies and supporting private enterprise, while encouraging investors to explore opportunities in federal and state-owned aviation projects, including the proposed airport along the Lekki corridor.
