Nigeria has plans to invest $38m in revamping Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Minister of State for Aviation Hadii Sirika said that the airport required a rehabilitation as it was in poor condition.

When the airport was built in 1979, it had an annual handling capacity of 300,000 passengers, but in the last three years, the number of passengers has grown up to eight million.

Sirika was quoted by Construction Review Online as saying: “We require to spend $38m as palliative on the refurbishment of the international terminal in Lagos. This airport was built in 1979 and intended to carry just 200,000 passengers annually, but it now does over eight million yearly. With the continuous over-use of its facilities, the amenities will not last for long.”

Sirika further added: “We want the new terminal to come on stream before we commence any work on the old terminal. As it is, we can’t close it totally because it is the only international terminal we have in the state, but a part of it would be shut once the new terminal comes onboard.”

The government plans to close down the airport terminal, but this will be done only once the construction of the second international terminal is concluded before the end of this year.

After rehabilitation, the airport will feature modernised facilities. The airport will also have a permanent plumber to look into the toilet facilities.

The second terminal is being constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). Its construction began in 2013.