MMIA Terminal 1 bridges to open in December

•FAAN, CCECC complete concrete works

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) have completed the concrete works on the inbound and outbound landside bridges at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The bridges are expected to open to traffic in December 2026, marking another major milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation and modernisation of the terminal.

The final concrete pouring, completed on Tuesday in collaboration with project consultant, ARUP, effectively connected the bridge structures from their starting points to their endpoints, bringing the project closer to completion.

The milestone was witnessed by FAAN’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, senior directors of the agency, representatives of CCECC and ARUP, and other stakeholders involved in the project. Kuku described the completion of the concrete works as a significant step in moving the Terminal 1 upgrade “from plans to visible delivery.”

She said the transformation of the terminal was becoming increasingly visible to Nigerians and international travellers, while thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for their support for the project.

The FAAN boss also commended CCECC, ARUP, the authority’s technical teams and other stakeholders for their contributions to the progress recorded on the project. FAAN said the event was deliberately kept as a modest media engagement to provide the public and other stakeholders with visible evidence of progress on the project and the Federal Government’s investment in upgrading the country’s major international gateway.

However, the airport authority clarified that the completion of the concrete works does not mean the bridges are ready for immediate use.

According to FAAN, the newly poured concrete must undergo the required curing period before lighting and other finishing works can be completed in the coming weeks.

The bridges are expected to be opened to traffic in December, alongside the anticipated completion of the façade and other exterior works of Terminal 1.

The rehabilitation and modernisation of Terminal 1 is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to upgrade airport infrastructure, improve passenger convenience and bring Nigeria’s airports closer to modern international standards.

The project is also expected to improve the appearance and functionality of MMIA, Nigeria’s main international gateway, and provide a better experience for passengers and other airport users.