Keyamo, joined by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the MD of the Federal Airports and the engineering teams from both the Ministry and FAAN. Photo: X | Festus Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has approved the design of a proposed monorail project to connect the Ikeja Railway Station with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The project is expected to provide rail access to the airport from the Lagos Red Line terminus in Ikeja, offering commuters and air passengers an alternative to road transportation.
Keyamo disclosed this in a statement made available on Tuesday, following a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and engineering teams from the ministry and FAAN.
In his remarks, Keyamo said the proposed monorail would have five stations along the route, connecting Ikeja to the international airport’s Terminal 1, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.
He stated, “Yesterday, I was joined by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the MD of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the engineering teams from both the Ministry and FAAN.
“We appraised and approved the design of the Lagos Airport monorail that would take commuters and the flying public from the Ikeja Railway Station (where the Lagos Redline terminates) to the terminal point at the new Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 1 that is now being reconstructed.
“There would be 5 stations/stops along the way, namely, Ikeja Station, Domestic Airport Station, Beesam Station, Toll Gate Station and MMI Airport Station. The monorail is an integral part of the reconstruction of the nation’s major gateway at the MMIA in Lagos.”
The development follows earlier announcements by the Federal Government on plans to extend the Lagos Red Line rail service into the airport complex to improve connectivity between the airport and other parts of the state.
PUNCH Online reports that in June, Keyamo announced that the government was working with the Lagos State Government on plans to extend the existing rail network from Ikeja to the airport’s domestic and international terminals.
The FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, also disclosed on October 18 that discussions on financing the planned airport rail link were at an advanced stage.
The project is expected to connect the airport’s three terminals to the Red Line as part of the wider modernisation programme.
The airport modernisation programme includes the reconstruction of Terminal 1, alongside other infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving passenger movement and airport operations. The reconstruction work is being undertaken while international flight operations continue through temporary arrangements.
The approval of the monorail design marks a further step in the development of the proposed airport rail connection. However, Keyamo’s statement did not provide a construction commencement date or a completion timeline for the project.