Lagos Reaffirms Commitment to Lekki International Airport

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its determination to construct an international airport in the Lekki axis, assuring the public that there are no legal hurdles delaying the project. The airport is intended to complement the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and serve the rapidly growing populations in Lekki, Ajah, and Epe.

No Legal Obstacles to the Airport Project

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, dismissed claims of litigation stalling the project, affirming that all required documentation has been submitted to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). “I am not aware of any legal obstacles,” Omotoso stated. “The Federal Government has granted approval, and we have signed all necessary documents with the federal airport authority. There are no legal encumbrances.”

A Public-Private Partnership Approach

Omotoso further clarified that the airport would be funded through a public-private partnership (PPP), with private investors shouldering the financial burden. He emphasized that the project would not be financed from the state’s balance sheet.

“We are not going to finance it from our balance sheet. It is something that will be done through public-private partnerships,” he explained. While avoiding a fixed timeline for the project’s completion, Omotoso noted that significant groundwork had already been laid, including identifying the site around the Aiyetoro area in Lekki.

Approval and Expectations

The Federal Government approved the airport’s construction on October 10, 2022, projecting it to handle about five million passengers annually upon completion. During the handover of the approval letter to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika highlighted Lagos State’s cosmopolitan nature as a key factor in its qualification for such an ambitious project.

A Priority for the Sanwo-Olu Administration

Omotoso emphasized that the Lekki International Airport remains a top priority for Governor Sanwo-Olu, who has pledged to deliver the project before the end of his tenure. “The project is on, and it is not something we should worry about,” Omotoso reassured.

The airport’s completion is expected to boost Lagos’s infrastructure, ease congestion at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, and support the economic growth of the Lekki corridor, a hub for industrial and residential development.