Abuja International Airport Expansion Approved

The Federal Executive Council has approved a $500 million expansion project for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, promising to triple passenger capacity by 2028.

The Federal Executive Council has approved a $500 million expansion project for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The expansion project, spearheaded by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), will see the construction of a new international terminal, runway extensions, and upgraded baggage handling systems.

Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo announced the decision after the council meeting, stating that the project would be executed in three phases over the next four years. The first phase involves extending the main runway to accommodate larger aircraft, including the Airbus A380. The second phase will focus on building a state-of-the-art terminal with increased passenger processing capacity. The third phase will upgrade existing facilities to meet international aviation standards.

This development comes as Nigeria continues to position itself as a major aviation hub in West Africa. The current airport handles approximately 6 million passengers annually but is operating at 85% capacity during peak periods. The expansion aims to increase this to over 20 million passengers per year.

Local aviation experts have praised the decision, noting that the expansion will create thousands of jobs during construction and significantly boost tourism and business travel. However, some environmental groups have raised concerns about the impact on surrounding communities and have called for comprehensive environmental impact assessments before work begins.