The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed confidence that Lagos is on course to rival some of Africa’s most established aviation hubs as ongoing investments and reforms continue to transform Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Accordind to the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood who disclosed this in a press release, speaking at the opening of the Invest Lagos 3.0 Summit held in Lagos, Keyamo said strategic infrastructure development and the state’s geographical advantage position Lagos to emerge as a major aviation gateway for the continent.
The three-day global investment summit, organised by the Lagos State Government, attracted international investors, business leaders, policymakers and development partners. The event was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by governors from Imo, Abia, Plateau and Nasarawa states, among other dignitaries.
According to the minister, Lagos possesses the necessary attributes to compete with leading aviation centres in Africa, including Addis Ababa and Lomé.
He noted that the city’s location provides a natural advantage for international air connectivity.
“Lagos is strategically located and equidistant to several major global destinations. Within approximately six hours, travellers can reach Europe, the Middle East, Southern Africa and South America. This geographical advantage makes Lagos ideally suited to serve as a central hub connecting Africa with the rest of the world,” Keyamo said.
The minister added that ongoing investments and policy reforms would accelerate the state’s emergence as a premier aviation destination on the continent.
He also highlighted Lagos’ dominance in Nigeria’s aviation sector, revealing that 67 per cent of international passengers entering the country by air arrive through Lagos.
Keyamo further disclosed that the Federal Government has approved a $500 million investment for the comprehensive reconstruction and modernisation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to him, the project is expected to transform the ageing airport infrastructure into a world-class facility within the next 22 months.
“This is not borrowed money. It is an investment from the nation’s resources aimed at transforming a fifty-year-old airport into a world-class aviation hub,” he said.
The minister also announced plans to strengthen connectivity around the airport through the extension of the Lagos rail network. He said the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is collaborating with the Lagos State Government to extend the rail line from Ikeja through the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), MM2 and the international terminal.
He described the project as a critical step towards enhancing passenger movement and supporting Lagos’ growing status as a regional aviation hub.
Keyamo also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a favourable investment climate, citing the resolution of a long-standing dispute involving a private airport investor as evidence of the administration’s support for private sector participation.
He urged local and foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities in federal and state aviation projects, including the proposed airport along the Lekki corridor.
The Invest Lagos 3.0 Summit is aimed at attracting investments into Lagos and strengthening its position as West Africa’s leading commercial and financial destination.
