Lagos Airport's Terminal One Rehabilitation Advances Under N712bn Rebuild

The comprehensive rebuild of Terminal One at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos is progressing, with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) describing the project as a full transformation rather than a cosmetic upgrade. The N712 billion project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, involves stripping the nearly 47-year-old terminal down to its structural core and rebuilding it with new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

The scope includes structural reinforcement, smart passenger-processing systems, modern baggage handling technology, upgraded security architecture, improved aprons, redesigned passenger flow, expanded access roads and new surveillance infrastructure. FAAN says the terminal will introduce electronic gates, biometric processing and updated screening systems, with the goal of expanding passenger handling capacity while improving turnaround efficiency. "The goal is not cosmetic improvement," said Henry Agbebire, FAAN's director of public affairs and consumer protection. "The goal is transformation."

Keeping the Airport Running During Construction

To sustain international flight operations while Terminal One is closed, FAAN built an 8,000-square-metre temporary terminal designed to handle up to 1,500 departing passengers during peak periods, serving five to six airlines on departure-only operations with full check-in, security screening and three boarding gates. The temporary facility reached over 90 per cent completion in January 2026 ahead of Terminal One's full closure that March for the start of the 22-month rehabilitation.

A Unified Super-Hub

Once complete, the rebuilt Terminal One is intended to connect with the existing Terminal 2 via a new skywalk, combining the two into a single hub the government says will be capable of handling 17.6 million passengers annually. The project is being funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund and is one of the largest single infrastructure commitments in Nigerian aviation history.