Labour Party Condemns ₦712 Billion Airport Renovation, Calls It Wasteful Amid Widespread Poverty

The Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s plan to spend ₦712 billion on the renovation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, describing it as a misplaced and insensitive priority.

In a statement issued on Monday by Mr. Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Acting National Chairman, the party argued that the funds should instead be directed toward improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, the majority of whom are grappling with poverty.

“The recent announcement by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, that the government plans to spend a staggering ₦712 billion—or $475 million—on airport renovations is as outrageous as it is heartless,” the statement said. “With 63% of Nigerians, or about 133 million people, living in multidimensional poverty, such an extravagant project is tone-deaf and callous.”

The LP condemned the use of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, sourced from savings following the removal of fuel subsidies, to finance a project they say benefits only the wealthy. “The only tangible benefit the poor ever derived from Nigeria’s oil wealth was the fuel subsidy. Redirecting those savings into an elite-only airport terminal is wicked and unjustifiable,” the party stated.

The statement also questioned why the project was not pursued through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), given the commercial viability of airport terminals. “Globally, airport terminals are revenue-generating assets. Why not attract private investment rather than squander limited public funds on a luxury project inaccessible to most Nigerians?” it queried.

Highlighting broader concerns over the government’s spending habits, the party pointed to the ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as another example of fiscal irresponsibility. “This administration’s pattern of misplaced priorities is glaring. Projects like these serve a small elite while essential sectors like healthcare, transportation, and food security are ignored,” the statement added.

Citing global comparisons, the LP noted that entire new airport facilities have been built in other countries at significantly lower costs. “If renovating an existing terminal will cost more than building a brand-new airport elsewhere, Nigerians deserve to know why,” the statement concluded.

The party called on citizens to question the rationale behind such expenditure, warning that continued silence may embolden further economic injustice.