The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong condemnation of the Federal Government’s decision to commit over ₦712 billion to the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, describing the plan as a gross misallocation of national resources and a glaring example of misplaced priorities.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC labelled the move by the Tinubu-led administration as “extravagant, fiscally reckless, and insensitive to the economic suffering of ordinary Nigerians.”
The party argued that such a massive expenditure cannot be justified at a time when critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure are in dire need of investment.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had on Monday approved the sum of ₦712.3 billion for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Lagos international airport.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, following the FEC meeting in Abuja on July 31, 2025.
According to Keyamo, this would mark the first major refurbishment of the airport’s original terminal since it was constructed, and the project would be executed under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund. He described the renovation as a strategic effort to modernize Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure.
However, the ADC insists that the airport is still fully functional and had already undergone significant upgrades in recent years, including the commissioning of a brand-new international terminal by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022. That facility, reportedly built on a land area of over 56,000 square metres and equipped with 66 check-in counters, was designed to handle up to 14 million passengers annually.
“In reality,” the ADC pointed out, “the airport handled only 6.5 million passengers in 2024 — less than 50% of its capacity. So, what exactly is the justification for this new renovation project? Is this the same airport being referenced, or is there another hidden motive behind this excessive budget?”
The party went further to express concern over the lack of legislative oversight and public transparency surrounding the project. “More alarming,” it noted, “is that this massive allocation has not received any formal approval from the National Assembly, nor is it reflected in any previously approved federal budgets. Is this the new norm — where nearly a trillion naira can be committed to a single project without appropriation, scrutiny, or democratic consultation?”
The ADC questioned the legal foundation of the spending, demanding clarity on the constitutional provisions backing the project. It accused the administration of bypassing accountability mechanisms, procurement protocols, and the need for public engagement. “This unilateral decision undermines fiscal discipline and democratic governance,” the statement continued.
To highlight the opportunity cost, the ADC outlined what ₦712 billion could achieve if redirected toward the nation’s pressing needs. According to the party, such a sum could fund the construction of more than seven state-of-the-art teaching hospitals, provide free basic education across three geopolitical zones for a five-year period, supply electricity to thousands of rural communities, or rehabilitate and expand several thousand kilometres of federal roads and bridges.
“What Nigeria’s aviation sector truly needs is not another luxurious terminal but sustained maintenance, improved operational efficiency, and the development of regional airports to improve national connectivity,” the party emphasized.
In closing, the ADC called on citizens and civil society groups to demand a halt to the project. “We urge all Nigerians to reject this wasteful and unaccountable use of public funds. We demand the immediate suspension of this proposed airport renovation, a comprehensive independent audit of the project’s budget, and a redirection of resources to initiatives that will genuinely enhance the quality of life for the majority of Nigerians.”