LAGOS/Nigeria: The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says passengers using the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, should expect a major improvement in movement between the international terminals before the December travel rush, with the new link bridge targeted for opening during the peak season.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, gave the assurance on Tuesday after inspecting the latest phase of the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of the airport.
Kuku said the final concrete work on the overhead bridge connecting Terminals 1 and 2 had been completed, marking a significant milestone in the project. She added that work on the canopy, structural framing and rails was also substantially advanced.
The bridge forms part of the wider effort to integrate the airport’s terminal facilities and improve passenger circulation, including its connection to the transit hub and the planned expansion of the Terminal 2 fingers.
“We are confident that by the December peak period, this should be open for public use,” Kuku said.
She said work was simultaneously progressing on other components of the airport redevelopment, including Terminal 1, where construction is being carried out around the building’s distinctive eagle structure ahead of the installation of its canopy.
According to her, façade and canopy works are also advancing on both the new and existing sections of the terminal, while FAAN is reviewing the technology and equipment to be deployed as part of the modernisation.
These, she said, include baggage handling systems, check-in technology, retail and commercial space arrangements and other facilities intended to improve the passenger experience.
Kuku acknowledged that the ongoing construction had created difficulties for passengers and other airport users, particularly because of traffic congestion around the facility.
She, however, said the disruption was part of the challenge of undertaking a major reconstruction at an airport that remains operational and handles high passenger volumes.
The FAAN chief said the long-term objective was to deliver infrastructure capable of serving passengers more efficiently after years without comprehensive structural upgrades.
Beyond the construction work, she said FAAN was taking steps to make the airport more accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
According to Kuku, two AmbuLifts have been acquired and deployed at the airport, while a ground-handling company has provided another unit, bringing the number of active AmbuLifts to three.
She added that the upgraded terminals would have improved Flight Information Display Systems with both visual and audio capabilities, alongside ramps, accessible elevators and designated wheelchair routes.
Passenger movement within the terminals is also being redesigned, she said, with arrival and departure flows separated and accessible ramps provided between gates and terminal buildings.
Kuku further disclosed that plans were underway for the extension of the Lagos Mass Transit Red Line to the airport, a project she said would provide a direct rail connection between the airport and the city.
She said the proposed extension would have four or five stops within the airport environment, including locations serving Terminal 1, Terminal 2, the Hadron Cargo Area, administrative offices and the Bissam area.
According to her, design reviews, environmental impact assessments and procurement processes are being undertaken for the proposed rail extension.
With the December travel period approaching, Kuku advised passengers to plan their journeys early, urging travellers to arrive at the airport three to four hours before departure and to follow traffic and parking instructions.
She also advised passengers to confirm flight schedules with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport.
FAAN, she said, would deploy additional personnel during the holiday period to assist travellers and manage operational challenges.
Kuku attributed part of the congestion around the Seymour drop-off area to motorists’ preference for the first level despite the availability of upper levels with direct access to the terminal.
She said FAAN had also established a direct connection between the Seymour Car Park and Terminal 2 to make it easier for passengers to reach their vehicles.
The MMIA rehabilitation and modernisation programme involves a comprehensive overhaul of Terminal 1 and expansion works around Terminal 2, including the apron and passenger boarding areas. The project, valued at ₦712.26 billion, is being funded domestically through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
