MMIA overhaul gathers pace as FAAN expands Lagos airport capacity to nearly 20 million passengers annually

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has launched a sweeping and historic MMIA overhaul at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, seeking to modernise Nigeria’s principal aviation gateway and expand its capacity to meet surging passenger demand.

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The project, championed by FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku and backed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, represents one of the most ambitious aviation infrastructure reforms undertaken in decades.

Originally constructed during the Second World War era and significantly expanded in the late 1970s, Terminal 1 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport was designed to handle fewer than 200,000 passengers annually.

In recent years, however, sections of the facility have been processing several million travellers each year, placing extraordinary strain on systems never intended for such volume.

The mismatch has been visible in congested departure halls, extended security queues, limited apron space and overstretched baggage handling and electrical systems.

Airlines have faced operational inefficiencies, longer turnaround times and rising costs, while passengers have endured chronic delays.

Despite these constraints, demand has continued to climb. International passenger traffic alone reached approximately 4.3 million in 2024, reflecting sustained growth even as domestic travel experienced minor fluctuations linked to economic pressures and airline capacity challenges.

The MMIA overhaul aims to correct decades of infrastructural imbalance. Terminal layouts are being reconfigured to improve passenger flow and clearly separate arrivals from departures, a critical adjustment for an airport long burdened by overlapping movements.

Airside capacity is also being expanded through apron enlargement and the installation of additional boarding bridges capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft. The upgrade is expected to reduce ground delays and strengthen the airport’s appeal for long-haul carriers.

On the landside, new access roads and improved inter-terminal connections are under development to ease traffic congestion around the airport complex.

Dedicated transit zones are also being introduced to allow connecting passengers to transfer without repeatedly clearing immigration, aligning the facility more closely with global hub standards.

To ensure continuity during construction, temporary infrastructure has been deployed, including a provisional departure hall with three gates and a peak handling capacity of roughly 1,500 passengers. Completion of the full project is projected within 22 months.

Upon completion, FAAN estimates that the combined hourly capacity of Terminals 1 and 2 will rise to about 7,040 passengers, translating to roughly 17.6 million passengers annually.

That would represent a three- to fourfold increase compared with pre-rehabilitation throughput.

The MMIA overhaul extends beyond physical expansion. Electronic boarding gates and upgraded screening systems have already reduced passenger processing times in some sections from nearly two hours at peak periods to closer to one, signalling measurable operational gains.

Accessibility improvements are also being embedded into the redesign, with enhanced facilities for passengers with reduced mobility and families travelling with children.

Officials describe the transformation as a shift towards a more inclusive, passenger-centred airport environment.

Challenges remain. Funding schedules, construction logistics and the complexity of keeping a major international hub fully operational during reconstruction continue to test planners.

Observers note that sustainable gains will also depend on stable power supply, efficient ground handling and improved surface transport links.

If delivered on schedule, the MMIA overhaul could mark a decisive turning point for Lagos and Nigeria’s aviation sector, repositioning the airport from an overstretched gateway into a capacity-ready hub capable of meeting the demands of nearly 20 million travellers each year.

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For an airport long associated with congestion and outdated infrastructure, the transformation promises to be both structural and symbolic, signalling a bold new chapter for Nigeria’s global connectivity.