Lagos light rail to connect MMIA directly to Marina, city center, FAAN, CCECC mark landside concrete work completion

The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have finalised plans to extend the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line directly into Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The project aims to integrate the airport directly into the state’s broader rail network, offering seamless, fast access between the airport and the heart of the city.

Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed this during an interview with journalists at the final concrete pouring for the arrival and departure bridges at MMIA on Tuesday.

Kuku explained that while the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development initiated the project, FAAN is the primary end-user.

The line will extend the current Red Line infrastructure, which presently terminates around Ikeja, directly into key airport hubs.

According to her, the planned extension will feature four or five dedicated stops within the airport perimeter, including Terminal 1, Terminal 2, the Hajj/Cargo area, the administrative offices, and the Beesam axis.

“The whole idea of the planned light rail is to connect the Lagos airport to the city of Lagos,” Kuku said. “From the airport, it would be easier to get into Marina almost immediately without people having to drive or use their cars.”

Speaking on the reconstructed MMIA terminal bridges, the FAAN chief expressed delight at the milestone, noting that the final concrete pouring paves the way for linking Terminals 1 and 2.

She acknowledged the inconvenience and traffic delays travellers have experienced and urged the public to remain patient as work nears completion.

Engagements with the engineering team and consultants indicate the overhead bridge project will be ready for public use within a few months, with expectations high for an operational launch ahead of the December holiday traffic rush.

Beyond the bridge infrastructure, extensive progress is underway on the structural facade, canopy, and iconic “eagle” design elements for Terminal 1, alongside widespread upgrades to backend technological systems.

FAAN is installing modernised baggage handling equipment, streamlined check-in technologies, and an upgraded retail layout to enhance the overall passenger experience.

Addressing accessibility, Kuku highlighted ongoing efforts to assist passengers with reduced mobility, particularly during the temporary disruption of avio-bridges caused by the ongoing construction.

To mitigate these challenges, FAAN recently procured two new Ambulifts, while a ground-handling firm added another unit to the airport’s fleet, bringing the total to three.

Kuku emphasised that major international airports continuously upgrade their infrastructure rather than waiting decades, adding that the overhaul of MMIA, which had lacked major modernisations for nearly 50 years, is long overdue and vital for national pride and seamless air travel.

She expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained investment in the aviation sector and commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), for his unwavering support in delivering the project to Nigerians.

Wole Shadare