Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is moving closer to developing a second international airport as renewed optimism surrounds the long-delayed Lekki-Epe International Airport project.
For decades, the state has depended solely on the Murtala Muhammed Airport, which handles more than 40 per cent of Nigeria’s annual air passenger traffic despite serving a population of over 17 million people.
By comparison, cities with smaller populations such as London operate multiple airports to manage travel demand more efficiently, highlighting Lagos’ infrastructure gap in aviation capacity.
The Lagos State Government first proposed the Lekki-Epe International Airport in 2009 under a public-private partnership arrangement, with plans for development on a 3,500-hectare site. Over the years, the project attracted interest from several local and international firms during its bidding process, including major construction and aviation companies.
In 2025, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the state had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia’s Summa Group to advance the airport project, describing it as a major step toward improving connectivity, economic growth, and investment opportunities in Lagos.
However, the project had previously stalled due to legal and operational disputes involving federal authorities and concession agreements tied to the management of Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), which included restrictions on constructing a competing airport within Lagos during the concession period.
That barrier has now been removed following a recent resolution between the Federal Government and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2. The agreement also involved the removal of exclusivity clauses that previously prevented the development of a second airport in the state.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that the resolution clears the way for new infrastructure projects, including the Lekki-Epe Airport, while also unlocking revenue opportunities from revised concession arrangements.
Aviation experts say the development could significantly reshape Lagos’ aviation landscape by easing congestion at the existing airport, improving efficiency, and supporting the rapidly expanding Lekki industrial and residential corridor.
Analysts note that the Lekki axis, which hosts major projects such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Dangote Refinery, already accounts for a large share of business and passenger movement in the state, making a second airport increasingly necessary.
Industry stakeholders also believe the new airport could serve both passenger and cargo operations, while complementing existing facilities rather than replacing them.
Experts further suggest that the success of the project will depend on efficient management, competitive service delivery, and integration with other transport infrastructure such as roads and coastal routes.
If completed, the Lekki-Epe International Airport is expected to strengthen Lagos’ position as a leading aviation and commercial hub in West Africa.
