FG approves N712bn overhaul of Lagos Airport, other airports to get upgrades

In a sweeping move to upgrade Nigeria’s aviation and healthcare infrastructure, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of N712 billion for the complete overhaul of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

The approval was part of decisions taken during the 7th FEC meeting held Thursday and presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described the Lagos airport upgrade as a “total remodeling and modernization” project.

The N712 billion investment will cover: Full renovation of MMIA Terminal 1; Runway rehabilitation valued at N44 billion to be completed within 30 weeks; Expansion of the airport parking facility; Construction of 14.6km security fencing and installation of CCTV systems for N50 billion, expected to last 24 months; Renovation of access roads and bridges leading to the terminal

The minister added that major airports in Port Harcourt and Kano will also undergo critical upgrades.

In Port Harcourt, the council approved N43 billion to enhance the landing system. Another N43 billion will go toward rehabilitating runways and navigational aids at the Aminu Kano International Airport.

Keyamo also announced the concession of the business phase of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, a move aimed at commercial viability and attracting private-sector participation.

“There will be stakeholder engagement before the renovations begin. We’ll work out new logistics for passenger flow and safety during the construction phase,” Keyamo stated.

In a parallel announcement, Dr. Mohammed Pate, Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare, unveiled a significant boost in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery—particularly in cancer treatment.

FEC approved the establishment of a state-of-the-art Oncology Centre at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to be outfitted with linear accelerators for radiotherapy and cutting-edge diagnostic equipment.

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This follows earlier government-backed oncology centres at teaching hospitals in Katsina, Enugu, and Benin, as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

“Nigerians fighting cancer no longer need to look abroad,” said Pate. “We are building world-class facilities and accompanying them with skilled human resources.”

He also revealed that new oncology centres are underway in Lagos, Zaria, and Jos, forming part of a broader strategy to decentralize cancer care across Nigeria.

The minister highlighted the commissioning of over 10 major projects at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), describing it as now the largest hospital in Nigeria and possibly West Africa.

The commissioned units include: Neurology Centre; Stroke Unit; Heart Centre; Interventional Radiology Facility; A modernized Oncology Centre

“This is no longer reform—it’s a healthcare revolution,” Pate declared.

As Nigeria embarks on these large-scale infrastructure and healthcare projects, concerns have begun to emerge around procurement transparency, project delivery timelines, and oversight.

While both ministers emphasized the benefits, public policy analysts urged the National Assembly and civil society to demand full accountability for the massive public funds involved.

With a combined price tag running into hundreds of billions, the FEC’s decisions this week could reshape Nigeria’s aviation and health sectors—if executed with integrity and oversight.