Passengers traveling through Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos may soon enjoy long-awaited internet access, with Wi-Fi services expected to be operational in Terminal 2 before the end of 2025.
This development was revealed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a live interview on Channels Television. In his remarks, the minister addressed persistent concerns regarding the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity at the nation’s major international airports—a problem that has left travelers increasingly dissatisfied over the years.
Keyamo acknowledged that the absence of internet access has placed Nigeria behind its peers, with the interviewer pointing out that airports in Africa, Europe, and North America already offer reliable Wi-Fi services as a basic amenity.
In explaining the delay, the minister attributed the situation to a combination of issues, most notably a conflict of responsibilities between two major agencies under the Aviation Ministry—the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
According to Keyamo, the disagreement over who should manage and implement the Wi-Fi infrastructure slowed progress for years. However, a resolution has now been reached, assigning NAMA full responsibility for the deployment of Wi-Fi in the terminals. This clarity has paved the way for financial planning, with allocations now included in the federal budget for 2025.
“The 2024 budget had already been passed when we reached this understanding,” Keyamo explained during the interview. “So we couldn’t do anything immediately because it had to be addressed through the proper budgetary process.”
He went on to clarify, “But in the 2025 budget, if you examine it, we have made provisions for the major infrastructure needed to power Wi-Fi connectivity. You require specific installations and technological frameworks to make Wi-Fi functional, and all of that has now been incorporated into the 2025 financial plan.”
Keyamo was confident that, once implemented, Wi-Fi would be fully functional in Terminal 2 before the end of the year. “So we hope before the end of 2025, for the airport that has not been upgraded, which is Terminal 2, we will have functional Wi-Fi in Terminal 2,” he stated.
However, the outlook for Terminal 1 remains uncertain. The minister disclosed that no action would be taken in that part of the airport for now, as it is scheduled for a complete demolition and reconstruction.
“But for Terminal 1, we cannot do anything there now, because that airport is coming down for a total rebuild,” he emphasized.
Keyamo also elaborated on NAMA’s claim to jurisdiction over the project, saying, “NAMA maintained that it is responsible for all navigation systems, including radio communication and other related operations at the airport—and that includes Wi-Fi.”
With this mandate now officially recognized, NAMA has been empowered to act, and funding is no longer an obstacle.
The new timeline for Terminal 2’s upgrade offers a sense of relief for air travelers who have long viewed Nigeria’s airports as lagging behind global standards when it comes to passenger convenience and digital access. However, those using Terminal 1 will have to wait significantly longer before any connectivity improvements are seen.
What You Should Know
Functional Wi-Fi services are set to launch in Terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport by the end of 2025. The delay, according to Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, stemmed from internal jurisdictional conflicts between NAMA and FAAN.
With NAMA now officially in charge and funds allocated in the 2025 federal budget, infrastructure development is expected to proceed. However, no internet access will be implemented in Terminal 1 in the near future, as it is set for a complete reconstruction.
