A file copy of the Publicity Secretary, African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi. Party demands suspension of project, questions lack of National Assembly approval, and urges funds be redirected to critical sectors
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has harshly criticised the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government over its recent approval of ₦712.3 billion for the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, labelling the move a grave misplacement of priorities and an insult to struggling Nigerians.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the expenditure as another clear act of fiscal recklessness and government disconnect from the hardship faced by millions of citizens. The party also condemned the lack of clarity and transparency surrounding the project, noting that the approval did not go through the National Assembly nor form part of any known budget.
The announcement of the airport upgrade was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, following a Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. Keyamo said the funding was approved under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund and would mark the first major rehabilitation of the airport’s old terminal since its construction.
However, the ADC questioned the rationale behind such an enormous spend on a facility it claims is already fully functional and was recently upgraded. It recalled that a new terminal was commissioned at the same airport by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022. That terminal, according to media reports at the time, sits on a 56,000 square metre landmass, with 66 check-in counters, seven jet bridges, censored conveyor belts, advanced cooling systems, recreational zones, and a 22-room stopover hotel. It also has the capacity to process 14 million passengers annually, even though only 6.5 million were recorded in 2024, less than half the capacity.
The party argued that instead of renovating a facility that is far from overstretched, the aviation sector needs efficiency, proper maintenance, and expansion of regional airports to improve national connectivity. It warned that the government’s actions could further erode public trust, especially in a time of rising poverty, hunger, and insecurity.
The ADC also provided context, pointing out that the ₦712 billion (approximately $500 million) earmarked for the project equals the total amount spent, via a Chinese loan yet to be repaid, on building four new international airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt in 2014. It questioned whether the new upgrade is a duplication of past projects or an outright admission that previous administrations misled the public.
“What constitutional provision allows the government to spend nearly a trillion naira without appropriation, public cost breakdowns, or legislative consent?” the party asked, challenging the legality and accountability of the entire process.
It further stated that ₦712 billion could instead fund seven world-class teaching hospitals, provide free basic education across three geopolitical zones for five years, electrify thousands of rural communities, or rehabilitate vast networks of roads and bridges nationwide.
Calling on Nigerians to resist what it termed a frivolous expenditure, the ADC demanded the immediate suspension of the project, an independent audit of the proposed budget, and a redirection of funds toward initiatives that will directly improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
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