By Abubakar Yunusa
A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Nigerian government to suspend its planned ₦712 billion reconstruction of Terminal One at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA).
The groups say the project is excessive, poorly timed, and fails to meet both value-for-money and priority tests in a country facing widespread poverty and economic hardship.
In a joint statement issued in Abuja, the Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation (GRACO), and five other groups criticised the project’s scale and timing.
They argue that the terminal upgrade, announced by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, does not reflect Nigeria’s most urgent needs, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and rural infrastructure.
The coalition pointed out that the project’s budget is almost equal to the entire ₦826.5 billion allocation for agriculture in 2025, and more than a third of the ₦1.91 trillion earmarked for healthcare, which serves over 200 million Nigerians.
“This is a misplacement of priorities in a country where millions are hungry, unemployed, and insecure,” the statement read, questioning why funds should be spent on a facility serving mainly the elite.
The CSOs also expressed concerns over transparency, noting the absence of legislative oversight or public consultation before the project’s approval, and warning that such spending undermines trust in government.
They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to shelve the plan and redirect the funds to more inclusive and impactful projects, while publicly disclosing how savings from fuel subsidy removal have been used so far.
