Airport Upgrade Under Fire as Opposition Coalition ADC Questions ₦712 Billion Spend, Calls It Wasteful and Tone-Deaf

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing critique of the Federal Government’s approval of ₦712.3 billion for the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, describing the move as an outrageous misallocation of national resources.

The party, through a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday, lambasted the Tinubu-led administration for what it called an extravagant and ill-advised project at a time when the country faces dire economic challenges, dilapidated infrastructure and a public in urgent need of relief.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, signed off on the massive sum under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund. This approval was later confirmed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, who noted that it would mark the first major rehabilitation of the terminal since its original construction.

That announcement has now sparked sharp criticism. The ADC raised several questions about the motivation behind the project and whether it had received proper legislative oversight or approval from the National Assembly. The party described the expenditure as unjustifiable, given the airport’s relatively recent upgrades and the many pressing needs competing for national funding.

According to Abdullahi, “The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the outrageous ₦712 billion airport renovation project announced by the Tinubu administration as another brazen act of fiscal recklessness and official insensitivity.” He argued that the move reflects a government detached from the daily realities of most Nigerians who are grappling with poverty, a failing health system, and crumbling educational institutions.

The ADC emphasized that the Lagos airport, though not state-of-the-art, remains operational and efficient, especially after receiving significant upgrades just a few years ago. The new international terminal commissioned in March 2022 under the Buhari administration boasted modern amenities, including a 56,000 square metre footprint, 66 check-in counters, and the capacity to handle 14 million passengers annually.

Yet, data cited by the party shows the airport only processed 6.5 million passengers in 2024, less than half its maximum capacity. This, they argue, further undermines the rationale for such a colossal financial commitment to the renovation.

Abdullahi pointed out that in 2014, Nigeria undertook the construction of four entirely new airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt at a total cost of around $500 million, funded through a Chinese loan which is still being repaid. By comparison, the party questions how the renovation of just one airport now demands roughly the same financial outlay.

Beyond the financial argument, the ADC warned that the project’s approval lacks transparency. The absence of legislative scrutiny, public cost breakdowns, and open procurement processes suggests, in their view, a government increasingly unmoored from constitutional accountability.

“Is this how the government now spends close to a trillion naira? Without appropriation, without scrutiny, and without the consent of the Nigerian people through their elected representatives?” the party queried. They went further, demanding clarity on the legal basis for such spending, urging civil society and opposition parties to remain vigilant.

Highlighting the opportunity cost of the project, the party offered comparisons to demonstrate how ₦712 billion could be redirected toward more impactful ventures. According to them, the funds could finance multiple teaching hospitals, enable five years of free basic education across several regions, electrify thousands of rural communities, or rehabilitate key federal roads and bridges.

“This is not the time for gold-plated terminals,” Abdullahi added. “The aviation sector requires smart, targeted investments that enhance efficiency and broaden regional air connectivity rather than vanity projects that benefit only a few.”

He also underscored the risk of widening the trust deficit between the government and the people, especially during a period marked by economic hardship, growing food insecurity, and heightened insecurity. “Nigerians are watching how every naira is being spent. Reckless spending erodes what little trust remains in public institutions.”

Concluding the statement, the ADC called for the immediate suspension of the project, a comprehensive independent audit of the proposed expenditure, and a complete re-evaluation of national infrastructure priorities. The party maintained that meaningful development must always put people’s needs at the center of policymaking.

The controversy is likely to fuel ongoing debates around government accountability, budgetary discipline, and the use of executive power in an era of growing public frustration and economic hardship.