FG orders airlines to vacate MMIA for repairs, suspends concessionaire agreements

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed all airlines to vacate the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, from October 1, 2023.

Keyamo gave the directive on Thursday during a tour of the airport, accompanied by Kabir Mohammed, Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Speaking to journalists, Keyamo said the relocation was necessary to give room for total maintenance work at the airport.

Keyamo directed the airlines and companies operating in the airport to move to the new terminal — MMIA terminal two.

“All airlines should vacate the MMIA before October 1 and relocate to MMIA Terminal 2,” he said.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari, in March 2022, inaugurated the new terminal — a facility that sits on a landmass of approximately 56,000 square metres.

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Keyamo also announced the suspension of airport concessions and the Nigeria Air project.

The concessioning of airports and the national carrier were two major projects under the aviation roadmap implemented by the immediate past administration of Buhari.

The minister said the projects would be put on hold until further notice.

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Two weeks before Buhari handed over to the new administration of President Bola Tinubu, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the concessioning of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.

Likewise, the ministry of aviation, under Hadi Sirika, ex-minister, unveiled Nigeria Air — three days to the end of the administration.

The development elicited angst among stakeholders nationwide and was labelled ‘a fraud’ by the House of Representatives.