The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticized the Tinubu administration’s decision to allocate over ₦712 billion for the renovation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, denouncing it as a reckless and insensitive financial undertaking.
In a statement from Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, ADC questioned whether this massive expenditure had received any approval from the National Assembly, describing the plan as disconnected from the pressing economic realities faced by Nigerians.
According to the ADC, the airport, which underwent a significant upgrade recently including a new international terminal commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022 is still functional and well-equipped. This terminal alone covers approximately 56,000 square meters, features 66 check-in counters, and can process up to 14 million passengers annually. However, recent data shows that only 6.5 million passengers used the airport in 2024, less than half its capacity, raising doubts about the need for such extensive renovations so soon.
The ADC highlighted the incongruity of spending nearly $500 million on the renovation of a single airport when the amount previously funded the construction of four new airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt in 2014 through a Chinese loan still outstanding. They questioned whether the previous administration misled Nigerians about the state of the airport or if this administration is poised to expend a colossal sum on redoing existing infrastructure.
Adding to their concern, the ADC emphasized the absence of parliamentary approval and budget recognition for this expenditure, which was only sanctioned by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025. The party challenged the legality and transparency of funneling close to a trillion naira without legislative scrutiny or public disclosure of costs and procurement details.
The opposition party further argued that ₦712 billion could have been better invested in transformative projects such as constructing multiple teaching hospitals, funding free education across several regions for years, providing rural electrification to thousands of communities, or repairing extensive federal roads and bridges.
In conclusion, the ADC called for the immediate suspension of the airport renovation project, a comprehensive independent audit of the proposed budget, and the reallocation of funds to initiatives that directly enhance Nigerian citizens’ lives. They warned that continued reckless spending amid growing hunger, economic hardship, and security challenges would deepen public distrust in the government. The ADC urged the current administration to prioritize the welfare of all Nigerians over luxury projects that serve only a privileged few
