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The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has confirmed that the ₦712.24 billion airport upgrade approved for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) rehabilitation followed a full tenders process, reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement and ratified by the Federal Executive Council. She stressed that the project is backed by verified data and is publicly available for scrutiny.
Speaking during a television interview streamed by NigerianFLIGHTDECK, Kuku clarified that every stage of the airport upgrade was transparent. “Do you think that such a project will be passed without going through a full tenders’ process? No, it wouldn’t and definitely not under my watch. We did go through a full tenders’ process where it was reviewed by the BPP, it went through the FEC, and of course the facts are there, the data is there, it’s public information for anyone who’s looking for it,” she explained.
She assured that FAAN is committed to accountability by making procurement documents and project milestones available for public access. “We’re working for the public. At the end of the day, we need to justify, we need to be accountable, and we need to be transparent about our actions. If you’re going to spend that kind of money, then we should make the information available,” she emphasized.
Kuku explained that while ₦712.24 billion is a significant sum, the airport upgrade investment is overdue. She stressed that unlike global counterparts who consistently upgrade their airports, Nigeria has left MMIA in near neglect for almost 50 years. “Murtala Mohammed is an airport that was built almost 50 years ago with no major rehabilitation. A lot of the airports that we visit globally continue to make such improvements over time. They don’t wait 50 years to make such an investment,” she said.
She noted that critics of the project cannot continue to describe the airports as substandard while opposing a comprehensive airport upgrade. “You can’t stay in one place and say the airports are in shambles, and then after four years you come back and ask what did you do while you were there. The same critics are at the forefront today saying airports are a mess. So, the question is: do we fix it now or continue to postpone?” she queried.
The FAAN boss highlighted that the airport upgrade is not limited to surface works but includes a full revamp of Terminal 1, modernization of facilities, expansion of the apron, and construction of a brand-new transit facility. Nigeria currently has no transit system, which prevents connecting passengers from transferring seamlessly.
“Today, there is no single transit activity that happens within the Nigerian airport. If we’re talking about improving our passenger traffic, it has to be done through transit passengers. How do we do that without the right infrastructure?” she asked.
Kuku added that structural gaps at Terminal 2, where wide-bodied aircraft struggle to operate, would also be addressed. Expansion of the finger section, new road networks, and redesigned passenger flow systems are included in the ₦712.24 billion airport upgrade plan.
Acknowledging the impact on travelers, she appealed to passengers to bear with FAAN during the airport upgrade, which will span 18 to 22 months. “Some of the rehabilitation works have already started. There is a temporary terminal that is also coming up. This is more of an appeal to our passengers to say, look, it is going to be quite strenuous over the next 18 to 22 months. We do ask that you please bear with us,” she said.
She added that rerouting of check-in procedures and scheduling adjustments had already begun in consultation with airlines. “There’s a lot of work that has gone into the planning to make life comfortable for passengers during this period. Some things will change, but we are committed to easing the strain as much as possible,” she assured.
According to Kuku, the project goes beyond brick and mortar. It is about positioning Nigeria’s aviation for global competitiveness. “Our airports are the gateway to the nation. Every traveler that comes into Nigeria whether a first-time visitor, a business traveler, or an investor their very first experience is our airports. This airport upgrade project is about ensuring that experience reflects the image and aspirations of Nigeria,” she concluded.
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