Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has again defended the ₦712 billion budget allocated for the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, calling it a necessary investment for the country’s global image, tourism, and foreign investment.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, monitored by our correspondent, Keyamo emphasized that aviation serves as the gateway to the nation, and any administration that fails to prioritize it risks sabotaging the country’s economic and international prospects.
“Without an aviation sector and the gateway to your country, you cannot attract anybody to your country,” Keyamo said. “Aviation is the face of the country, and any government that does not prioritize that, you want to destroy every single foreign investment that is coming into the country.”
The minister’s remarks come amid public debate over the scale and cost of the renovation, which some critics argue could have been better managed or scaled down. But Keyamo maintained that Nigerians are aware of the value such a project brings, particularly as the Lagos Airport represents the country’s primary point of entry.
“Nigerians who are listening to us are more intelligent than most of us. They understand the issues involved here, they understand the priority we have given to the Lagos Airport — which is the face of the nation,” he stated.
He also highlighted the potential multiplier effect on tourism, particularly during the festive season.
“Look at Detty December coming. Are you not proud of Detty December? That Lagos is now known for Detty December? Is it that old airport you want to bring people from all over the world to do Detty December in Lagos? When they land, they land in heat and smelly toilets,” Keyamo said, pointing to past infrastructure challenges.
The minister urged Nigerians to judge the merit of the reconstruction project themselves, framing the renovation as part of a broader effort to improve national infrastructure, attract tourism, and boost economic growth through a better travel experience.
The Lagos Airport renovation is part of a wider infrastructure overhaul in the country’s aviation sector under the Tinubu administration, with government officials promising transparency, quality delivery, and long-term value.
Credit @ARISEtv via x.com
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