“JFK Is Undergoing $19bn Upgrade” — FG Compares Lagos Airport Overhaul To Global Projects, Justifies ₦712.3bn Budget
The Presidency has defended the recently approved N712.3 billion pull-down-and-rebuild contract for Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, describing it as modest in comparison to similar global airport infrastructure projects.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its last meeting, gave the green light for the complete demolition and reconstruction of the aging terminal, a decision that has stirred mixed reactions across the country.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Tope Ajayi, on Sunday weighed in on the debate via a post on his verified X handle, @TheTope_Ajayi, offering perspective by comparing the Lagos project to the ongoing $19 billion overhaul of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York.
“Anyone who has travelled through the JFK airport in New York in the last 3 years will see extensive renovation work that is going on at the United States’ premier international airport. JFK is being renovated at the cost of $19 billion”, Ajayi wrote.
He noted that in contrast, Nigeria’s remodelling of MMIA Terminal One is estimated at about $500 million in dollar terms, describing it as a “modest cost by all standards and at the level and scale of work that will be executed.”
The MMIA Terminal One, built in the 1970s and commissioned in 1979, has long struggled with infrastructure deficits, capacity limitations, and maintenance issues, prompting calls for a comprehensive overhaul.
The Presidency’s intervention aimed at reassuring Nigerians that the administration’s investment in critical aviation infrastructure is both necessary and comparatively prudent.
The government has said the project is part of broader efforts to upgrade Nigeria’s airport facilities to meet global standards and support growing passenger and cargo volumes.
