FAAN Targets December Opening of MMIA Terminal Link Bridge

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says the overhead bridge linking Terminals One and Two at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, will be opened to passengers before the December peak travel period.

FAAN Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Lagos after inspecting the final concrete works on the bridge as part of an assessment of ongoing rehabilitation and expansion projects at the airport.

Kuku said the completion of the concrete work marked a major milestone, noting that the canopy, framing and rails were already substantially completed.

She said the bridge would not only connect the two terminals but also link the transit hub and support the planned expansion of the fingers at Terminal 2.

“I am confident that by the December peak period, we should have this open for public use,” she said.

Kuku said rehabilitation works were also progressing at Terminal 1, including work on the iconic eagle structure where a canopy would be installed.

According to her, canopy and façade works were ongoing on both the new structure and the existing terminal building, while FAAN was reviewing the technology and equipment to be deployed as part of the airport’s modernisation.

She listed the upgrades to include baggage handling equipment, check-in technology, retail layout and space design, as well as improvements to the overall passenger experience.

The FAAN boss acknowledged the frustration caused by traffic congestion and construction-related disruptions at the airport, but said the inconvenience was necessary to deliver a long-term upgrade after years without major structural rehabilitation.

“Operating a high-traffic airport while executing a major rehabilitation is a complex challenge. However, the progress made today is for the long-term benefit of the country, passengers and the airport as the primary point of entry into Nigeria,” she said.

On accessibility, Kuku said FAAN had acquired and delivered two AmbuLifts to MMIA to assist passengers with reduced mobility, while a ground-handling company had provided another, bringing the number of active units to three.

She added that the upgraded terminals would have enhanced Flight Information Display Systems with audio and visual capabilities, as well as ramps, accessible elevators and dedicated wheelchair routes.

Kuku said passenger movement had also been redesigned, with arrival and departure streams separated and wheelchair-accessible ramps connecting gates to terminal buildings.

She further disclosed that the Federal Government was initiating an extension of the Lagos Mass Transit Red Line to the airport, with four or five proposed stops within the airport perimeter.

The proposed stops, she said, would cover Terminal 1, Terminal 2, the Hadron Cargo Area, administrative offices and the Bissam area.

She said the rail extension would provide direct connectivity between the airport and the city, allowing passengers to travel towards Marina without depending solely on road transportation.

According to her, environmental impact assessments, design reviews and procurement processes for the rail project were ongoing.

Kuku urged travellers to arrive at the airport three to four hours before scheduled departure during the December travel rush, follow directional signs and use designated parking areas.

She also advised passengers to confirm flight updates directly with their airlines before leaving for the airport.

She said FAAN would deploy additional personnel across the airport during the holiday period to assist travellers and minimise operational challenges.

On traffic around the Seymour drop-off zone, Kuku attributed the congestion partly to motorists’ preference for Level 1 despite the availability of upper levels with direct terminal connections.

She said FAAN had also connected the Seymour Car Park directly to Terminal 2 to make it easier for passengers to walk between the terminal and their vehicles.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kuku inspected the projects alongside FAAN directors.

The MMIA Terminal 1 rehabilitation and modernisation project is being executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and is funded domestically through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund at a cost of ₦712.26 billion.