FAAN Unveils Five Stops for Lagos Airport Rail Link

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, has disclosed that the planned extension of the Lagos Red Line to Murtala Muhammed International Airport will feature about five stops within the airport corridor.

The rail project, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, is expected to connect the airport directly to the city and improve mobility for passengers and airport users.

Speaking during an inspection of the ongoing remodelling of Lagos International Airport Terminals One and Two, the FAAN boss said the proposed stops would serve Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Hadron Cargo, airport offices and another location around Bisam.

She said the project would effectively extend the Red Line from its current terminus around Ikeja into the airport, allowing passengers to travel between the airport and other parts of Lagos without relying entirely on road transportation.

“The whole idea is to connect the city to the airport. So from the airport, you should be able to get into Marina almost immediately. You shouldn’t have to use cars,” she said.

The FAAN chief, however, said construction would not begin immediately, as several technical and regulatory processes were still underway. Environmental impact assessments, design reviews and procurement procedures are currently being handled as part of preparations for construction.

She described the rail link as a landmark project that would complement the extensive rehabilitation and expansion work already taking place at Terminals 1 and 2 of the international wing.

Progress on terminal rehabilitation

On the ongoing construction works, Onabanjo-Kuku expressed optimism that some major components would be completed before the December travel rush.

She said the final concrete work for the overhead bridge linking Terminals 1 and 2 had been completed, marking a significant milestone. According to her, the bridge is expected to ease movement between the terminals and improve the overall passenger experience.

“I’m extremely excited to see the level of progress. I’ve just engaged some of the consultants and the engineering team on the project, and I’ve been informed that in the next couple of months this will be ready for use,” she stated.

She said the canopy and structural work were substantially completed, while the rails had also been installed. The aim, she added, was to have the bridge open before the peak December travel period.

“Beyond the bridge, as you can see, work is progressing on Terminal 1, including the distinctive canopy structure and façade. The authority is also working on baggage-handling systems, check-in technology, retail facilities and other systems intended to modernise passenger processing.”

Passenger patience acknowledged

Onabanjo-Kuku acknowledged that the prolonged construction had tested the patience of passengers, many of whom had expressed frustration over traffic and movement around the airport.

She said the difficulties were understandable, particularly because the airport had operated for about 50 years without a major upgrade of this scale.

“Passengers have been extremely patient with us. I have seen people who have expressed frustrations. Those frustrations happen, especially in an airport that has been here for about 50 years with no major upgrades,” she said.

She appealed to travellers to understand the difficult balance between maintaining airport operations and executing major construction works.

“We have a highly volatile construction environment going on. We also have an operational environment. It’s quite challenging to be operating an airport and having such a major rehabilitation going on,” she said.

Inclusive facilities

The authority is also making provisions for passengers with limited mobility. She explained that FAAN had brought in two ambulifts, while a ground-handling company had provided another, increasing the available equipment for passengers who require assistance.

The renovated facilities, she said, would also incorporate wheelchair-accessible ramps, elevators and improved passenger separation, while flight information systems would cater to travellers with hearing and visual impairments.

“We want to make sure that this is an inclusive project for all of our passengers,” she said.

Travel advisory

Meanwhile, FAAN has urged passengers to cooperate with traffic and movement arrangements at the airport. The authority recently connected the Seymour Car Park to Terminal 2 and appealed to motorists to use designated levels and follow directional signs.

The FAAN chief also advised passengers to arrive at least three to four hours before their flights during the construction period, check with their airlines for updates and follow instructions from airport personnel.

“We are also making sure that we deploy a lot more people into the airport during that period,” she added.