FG Modernising Airports So Nigeria Can Stop Treating Passengers Like Runway Survivors — Keyamo

Nigeria’s Federal Government says its push to modernise airport infrastructure is about more than giving terminals fresh paint and passengers a better place to wait for delayed flights. Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo says the upgrades are aimed at improving safety, operational efficiency, passenger experience and Nigeria’s competitiveness as an aviation hub. Recent projects include the upgraded domestic terminal at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and a planned ₦46 billion reconstruction of its runways.

From “Manage What You Have” to “Please Modernise Everything”

For years, Nigerian aviation infrastructure has carried the familiar national burden of ageing facilities, operational limitations and the occasional passenger wondering whether the airport is actually ready for the aircraft that is about to land. The government’s current approach appears to be that hoping infrastructure survives another decade is no longer an acceptable development strategy. Keyamo has repeatedly linked airport investment to safety, efficiency, passenger comfort and international standards.

The scale of the ambition is substantial. The Federal Government has been pursuing major rehabilitation and modernisation work at Lagos, Kano and other airports, while also exploring better connectivity. In Lagos, the government has backed a comprehensive modernisation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, while plans have also been discussed to extend rail connectivity towards major airport terminals. In other words, the airport upgrade story is increasingly becoming an infrastructure story rather than simply an aviation story.

Bigger Terminals, Better Runways — And Hopefully Fewer “Nigeria Experience” Moments

The Kano intervention provides a useful snapshot of the government’s strategy. Keyamo commissioned the remodelled Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo Domestic Terminal in July and announced ₦46 billion for reconstruction of the airport’s runways. The Hajj Terminal upgrade is also underway, with the government describing Kano as a strategic commercial and aviation gateway for Northern Nigeria.

The modernisation agenda is also moving into technology and greener infrastructure. The government has introduced plans for biometric passenger verification at domestic airports, while Keyamo has spoken about incorporating solar power into new airport facilities. Nigeria’s 2025–2045 Civil Aviation Master Plan likewise envisages modern airports functioning as wider economic hubs supporting trade, logistics and jobs. So, beneath the official language of “modernisation,” there is a bigger calculation: make airports safer and more efficient, attract investment, improve passenger movement and turn aviation infrastructure into an engine for economic activity.

For OGM News NG, the interesting part is what happens after the commissioning ceremonies, ribbon cuttings and impressive project figures. Nigerians will ultimately judge the modernisation programme by whether airports actually become safer, more comfortable, more efficient and easier to navigate — and whether the promised infrastructure survives the traditional Nigerian test of time, traffic and maintenance. With major projects still unfolding, readers should watch for updates on implementation, costs, timelines and the real passenger experience as the Federal Government attempts to give Nigeria’s airports a genuinely modern makeover.