FAAN to Rebuild Burnt Terminal at Lagos Airport in 22 Months

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to dismantle the burnt terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos following a recent fire outbreak. Captain Abdullahi Zubeir Mahmood, Director of Airport Operations at FAAN, disclosed in an interview that the federal government had previously earmarked N712.26 billion in August last year for the rehabilitation of the old terminal, which has been in operation since 1979 and has a passenger capacity of 250,000 per annum.

The urgent need to rebuild the terminal has been emphasized, with plans to move operations to a temporary terminal for four airlines within the next two to three weeks. The timeline for the complete rehabilitation is set at 22 months.

The fire has prompted FAAN to accelerate work on the structure, and while the budget for the rehabilitation is confirmed, it remains uncertain if it will increase due to the fire damage. The new terminal is expected to accommodate the growing passenger traffic, which has surged beyond the old terminal's capacity.