Fierce criticism has trailed the Federal Government’s approval of ₦712.3 billion for the renovation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with opposition parties – the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP) – describing the move as fiscally reckless, elitist, and out of touch with the economic realities facing Nigerians.
The criticism follows the July 31 approval granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), announced by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo. According to him, the funds will go toward the first major rehabilitation of the airport’s old terminal since its construction, under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
But the ADC, in a statement issued late Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned the spending as a brazen act of official insensitivity. The party questioned whether the project received legislative backing, calling the expenditure a violation of fiscal transparency and democratic accountability.
“This same airport received a new international terminal just two years ago, commissioned in March 2022 by then-President Buhari. So what exactly is this ₦712 billion for? Is the Government spending close to a trillion naira without National Assembly appropriation, without scrutiny, and without the consent of the Nigerian people?”, the statement read.
The ADC added that the same amount – approximately $500 million – was used in 2014 to build four new airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, funded through a Chinese loan still being serviced. “What Nigeria’s aviation sector needs is not another gold-plated terminal but basic maintenance, operational efficiency, and expansion of regional airports to boost connectivity”, the party stated.
Echoing similar concerns, the Labour Party, (LP), yesterday described the decision as a gross misapplication of scarce national resources. In its own statement, the LP criticized the Tinubu administration for prioritising a luxury infrastructure project at a time when Nigerians are reeling under economic hardship caused in part by the removal of fuel subsidies.
“The ₦712 billion should be channeled toward alleviating poverty, funding essential services, or addressing the collapse in education and healthcare systems”, the LP noted. “Rather than indulging in elite-focused projects, the government should explore transparent Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to fund such ventures”.
Both parties insisted the renovation plan underscores how far removed the administration is from the suffering of the average Nigerian. They warned that lavish spending without clear accountability or measurable benefits would only deepen public distrust and economic inequality.
As public debate swells, questions remain about whether the National Assembly was consulted on the project, and under what constitutional framework the funds are being disbursed.
