By Joy Odor, Abuja | August 7, 2025
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) has condemned the Federal Government’s approval of N712 billion for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and modernization of Terminal One at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, describing the expenditure as excessive, poorly prioritized, and lacking in transparency.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the coalition said it had followed the announcement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that the project would be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
While acknowledging the need for world-class infrastructure, the group insisted that public funds must be spent prudently and in line with the country’s most pressing needs.
“These are not personal funds of government officials but public resources, which should be used transparently and in the interest of Nigerians,” the coalition stated.
The organizations noted that the timing and scale of the project were questionable, particularly in light of recent upgrades to five airports nationwide by the previous administration.
They argued that such a massive allocation was unjustifiable given Nigeria’s worsening poverty levels, food insecurity, and underfunded key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture.
Citing 2025 budget figures, the coalition pointed out that healthcare for over 200 million Nigerians received N1.91 trillion, while agriculture was allocated N826.5 billion, meaning the cost of one airport terminal is nearly equivalent to the budget of an entire critical sector.
The group also referenced World Bank projections that poverty in Nigeria will rise by 3.6 percentage points by 2027, warning that government spending must focus on “pro-people priorities” rather than “vainglorious white elephant projects.”
The Coalition criticized the absence of known deliberations by the National Assembly before the approval, calling it a breach of due process.
It urged the Tinubu administration to redirect the funds towards grassroots infrastructure such as federal road repairs, healthcare facilities, education, reliable electricity, and agricultural value-chain improvements.
“If the idea is to invest in infrastructure, the focus should be on projects that directly improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, not elitist airport reconstructions,” the coalition said.
They also challenged the Federal Government to publicly declare the total savings from the removal of fuel subsidy, insisting that transparency and accountability remain essential in public spending.
