- Lagos International Airport’s New Terminal to Open Q4
Indications have emerged that the new terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos will be open for operation in the fourth quarter of the year.
The Federal Government envisages that the new terminal, upon completion, will help to ease passengers’ facilitation at the airport as well as increase passengers’ volume.
The terminal was to have become functional since 2016 but the opening date was postponed twice.
The MMIA and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airports are expected to be certified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation by May and December, respectively, hence the facelift at both airports.
Aviation experts had been concerned over non-certification of any of Nigeria’s airports before ICAO and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority began with the major airports in Lagos and Abuja.
Our correspondent, however, learnt that the contractor in charge of the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, had been directed to speed up the work to meet up with the end of the year opening date.
The opening of the new MMIA terminal, according to the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, will give room for the rehabilitation of the old terminal.
She said, “The old terminal has two wings; so when the new one opens, one wing will be shut down for repairs while airlines will operate from the other.
“Upon completion, the second wing will be shut down and operators will move to the renovated wing to give room for a total refurbishment of the other. While the new terminal is operating, the old one will also be fully operational after the refurbishment.”
She added that some airlines would remain at the old terminal.
The Regional Director of ICAO West and Central Africa office, Mam Sait Jallow, who recently led a team of experts on inspection of Lagos and Abuja airports, said Nigeria would be assisted with technical guidance towards the AFI Plan Certification process.
