June 9 (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has announced plans to extend the Lagos rail network to both the domestic and international terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), as part of efforts to improve accessibility and strengthen the country’s aviation infrastructure.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed on Monday during the opening ceremony of Invest Lagos 3.0, an investment summit organised by the Lagos State Government.
Keyamo said discussions are already underway between the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Lagos State Government on the proposed rail extension project, which is expected to improve connectivity to Nigeria’s busiest airport and support Lagos’ ambition of becoming a major aviation and logistics hub on the African continent.
According to him, the proposed rail route would extend from the existing corridor terminating at Ikeja Bus Stop to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), continue through Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), and eventually terminate at the international wing of the airport.
“We are also planning to extend the rail line that ends at Ikeja Bus Stop. We are working with the Lagos State government to extend that rail line all the way to the local airport, through the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), and all the way to the international airport.
“That rail line is about to start. It’s the extension of the rail line. So, Lagos is just ready for the next big step in terms of its aviation activities,” Keyamo said.
The minister noted that Lagos currently accounts for approximately 67 per cent of all passenger traffic across Nigeria’s airports, further highlighting its strategic importance within the country’s aviation ecosystem.
He maintained that the state possesses a significant geographical advantage that positions it as a natural aviation hub for Africa and beyond.
“Just six hours across the Atlantic, you will get to South America from the Lagos airport. Six hours down, you’ll get to Southern Africa. Six hours to the Middle East, you’ll get to Dubai or Qatar.
“Six hours up, you will get to Europe, either France or London. That is the equidistant advantage that Lagos also provides as a hub for the whole of Africa. So, we will soon catch up with hubs like Addis Ababa, with hubs like Togo,” he stated.
In a related development, Keyamo disclosed that the Federal Government has committed about $500 million towards the reconstruction and modernisation of the ageing international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
He said the investment would transform the nearly five-decade-old facility into a modern aviation gateway capable of accommodating increasing passenger and cargo demands.
The minister also announced that Nigeria now has seven international airports following the inclusion of Victor Attah International Airport and Maiduguri International Airport in the country’s international aviation network.
He further cited the resolution of the legal dispute between BASL and the Federal Government as evidence of the administration’s determination to encourage private-sector participation in aviation development.
Keyamo urged both local and foreign investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the aviation industry, including the proposed airport project within the Lekki-Epe corridor being promoted by the Lagos State Government.
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