Financing for Lagos Airport Rail Link Nears Completion, Says FAAN MD

Financing discussions for the proposed rail extension linking Lagos’ Red Line to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) have reached an advanced stage, according to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku.

Kuku disclosed this while speaking as a keynote panellist at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, where she discussed the future of airports, technology and infrastructure partnerships. The project, being pursued through collaboration between the Federal Government, FAAN and the Lagos State Government, is expected to connect the airport’s three terminals to the Lagos Mass Transit Red Line, offering passengers an alternative to road transportation.

According to Kuku, the planned airport rail link will feature five stops within the airport complex, serving its terminals and cargo facilities. The connection is expected to improve access between the city and the airport while supporting passenger movement and airport logistics. She noted that the financing structure is still being finalised, and the project has not yet reached the stage of confirmed completion or a publicly announced construction timetable.

Beyond the rail project, Kuku highlighted ongoing modernisation work at MMIA, noting that Lagos accounts for approximately 68 per cent of Nigeria’s air traffic. She said Terminal 1 is undergoing a comprehensive overhaul focused on improving passenger movement, immigration and customs operations, service-counter efficiency and the adoption of modern technology.