• $615 million approved for airport infrastructure and equipment upgrades

• Projects include new terminals, control centers, and navigation systems

• Goal is to raise service quality amid rising passenger traffic

Nigeria has approved a $615 million investment to modernize its airports and upgrade security equipment as part of an ongoing national aviation improvement plan.

The funding will cover work at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, including upgrades to terminal B, the construction of command and control centers at major airports, and the purchase of navigational systems and spare parts.

This follows a recent announcement by Festus Keyamo, Minister of Civil Aviation, who unveiled a full reconstruction plan for the old terminal at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. The upgrade is meant to bring the facility in line with international standards and expand its capacity to 20 million passengers per year.

Before these recent steps, the government had already launched modernization efforts at other international airports in Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Kano. The broader roadmap also includes digitizing airport services, such as new security scanners, magnetic gates, and self-service kiosks for boarding pass printing.

On May 1, Nigeria launched e-Visa and electronic entry/exit card services, marking a move toward more streamlined travel procedures.

The modernization push comes as domestic air traffic continues to grow, driven by the rise of local airline operators and an expanding middle class. This increase in demand has placed pressure on airport infrastructure, affecting the quality of services offered.

Despite Lagos and Abuja being among Africa’s busiest airports, neither has appeared in the Skytrax World Airport Awards rankings in recent years. In the 2025 edition, only Cape Town and Johannesburg airports from South Africa made the top 100 list, which evaluates global airports based on passenger experience across key services.