Aviation engineer Sheri Kyari warns that the Federal Government’s N712 billion plan to demolish and rebuild Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal One is inadequate and could disrupt operations without detailed planning.
Veteran aviation engineer Sheri Kyari has cautioned that the Federal Government’s proposed N712 billion budget for demolishing and rebuilding the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal One in Lagos is insufficient and risks major disruption. In an interview with The Guardian, Kyari said, “If the Federal Government is thinking of expanding the MMIA1, I think it is a good idea. But if it is about bringing the entire terminal down and constructing another one, then we are going to cause a big chaos.” He advised a phased refurbishment—“maybe starting with the E-Wing, and then you move to the D-Wing”—to keep the facility partially operational. Kyari stressed that total demolition requires careful slot planning for airlines and passengers. “Bringing that terminal down is fearful,” he warned, adding that inflation would make the N712 billion allocation “too meagre” for full reconstruction. On new air links, he welcomed Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Brazil, noting traffic will “grow over time” if commercial ties strengthen.