FG Plans Rail Extension to Lagos Airport, Says Keyamo

The Federal Government has announced plans to extend the Lagos rail network to the domestic and international terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), a move designed to improve access to Nigeria’s busiest aviation gateway and reinforce the city’s status as a continental hub.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the proposal on Monday at Invest Lagos 3.0, an investment forum organised by the Lagos State Government. He said discussions were already underway between his ministry and the state government on the project, which will link the existing rail line terminating at Ikeja Bus Stop directly to the airport.

Under the plan, the extension will pass through the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), proceed to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, and end at the international terminal.

“That rail line is about to start. It is the extension of the rail line. So, Lagos is just ready for the next big step in terms of its aviation activities,” Keyamo said.

The minister said the project would enhance connectivity for the millions of passengers who pass through the airport annually and advance the government’s ambition of positioning Lagos as a major aviation and logistics hub on the continent. He noted that Lagos accounts for about 67 per cent of passenger traffic through Nigeria’s airports and enjoys a natural geographic advantage, with flight times of roughly six hours to South America, Southern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

“That is the equidistant advantage that Lagos provides as a hub for the whole of Africa. We will soon catch up with hubs like Addis Ababa and Lomé,” Keyamo stated.

The proposed rail link would complement ongoing investments in Lagos’ expanding mass transit system. The Lagos State Government recently reported that the Blue Line carried about 3.5 million passengers in 2025, with daily ridership climbing to 15,000 commuters, while work continues on extending the line to Okokomaiko and boosting services on the Red Line.

Keyamo also outlined broader federal investments in aviation infrastructure under the Tinubu administration, revealing that approximately $500 million had been committed to reconstructing and modernising the international terminal at the Lagos airport. He said the investment would transform the ageing facility into a modern gateway capable of handling growing passenger and cargo traffic.

The minister added that the government had expanded the country’s international airport network with the designation of Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo and Maiduguri International Airport, bringing the total number of international airports to seven. He also pointed to the resolution of the long-running dispute between BASL and the federal government as evidence of the administration’s commitment to enabling private sector participation in aviation.

If implemented, the airport rail extension would provide direct rail access to Murtala Muhammed Airport for the first time, integrating the facility into Lagos’ urban rail network and supporting broader efforts to improve mobility in Nigeria’s commercial capital.