The Nigerian federal government is exploring ways to raise funds to renovate Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made this known on March 3.

Keyamo was responding to reports that wrongly suggested President Bola Tinubu had abandoned plans to lease the airport to private operators and was only focused on raising money for its renovation. He clarified in a post on X that while the government is working to secure funds for refurbishment, the concession process is still being considered.

“The federal government is considering sourcing funds to completely renovate the Lagos International Airport. The funding model has not been decided yet, but even if the government uses its own funds for the renovation, it does not mean the airport won’t be leased out for better management,” Keyamo explained.

Earlier, on May 27, 2024, Keyamo had stated that the government was reviewing the process of leasing major airports to private companies. He assured the public that the goal was to ensure transparency and bring the airports up to international standards.

The federal government is also working on a master plan to improve major airports across Nigeria, ensuring they are properly maintained and efficiently managed.