A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Federal Government to immediately shelve its planned N712 billion reconstruction of Terminal One of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The organisations described the expenditure as excessive, misplaced and insensitive to the economic plight of millions of Nigerians. The coalition, comprising the Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation (GRACO) and five other civic groups, made the demand in a joint press statement in Abuja on Friday.

They argued that the project, as announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, does not reflect the country’s most pressing needs and should be placed behind more critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education and rural infrastructure.

Keyamo had stated that the project would be executed using funds from the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, and would cover rehabilitation, upgrade and modernisation of the airport’s international terminal.

The coalition, however, said such a move represents a clear misjudgment in national spending priorities. Noting that the project fails both the value-for-money and urgent priority tests, the civil groups described the project as a classic case of misplacement of priorities in a country where millions are hungry, unemployed, and insecure.

The coalition said the amount earmarked for the project is nearly equivalent to the N826.5 billion allocated to the entire agriculture sector in the 2025 budget, and more than a third of the N1.91 trillion allocated to healthcare, which is expected to serve over 200 million Nigerians.

They questioned the rationale for spending such a large sum on an airport terminal, primarily serving the elite at a time when 75 per cent of Nigerians in rural areas live below the poverty line.

The statement read in part: “While this Coalition is not against the provision of world class infrastructure to drive Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity, there are important value for money, transparency and accountability issues, which the Federal Government cannot afford to gloss over.

“We make bold to state that monies being expended for the project are not personal monies of government officials, but public funds, which should be used prudently, transparently, and in line with the most pressing priorities of the Nigerian people.

“This coalition is concerned that the quantum of funds being devoted to the project, coming on the heels of a recent upgrade of five airports, across the country by the immediate past administration, is excessive, circumvents due process, and can hardly be justified in the context of daily economic struggles of the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians.

“For us therefore, the key question is not whether Nigeria needs modernised airports or not. The fundamental question for us is: In the face of millions of poor, starving, and insecure citizens, this project cannot stand the priority test.”

The coalition also raised transparency and accountability concerns, noting that there was no indication of legislative oversight or public consultation before the approval.

They said this further undermines public trust and contradicts the government’s stated commitment to prudent fiscal management following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The CSOs urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the project and reallocate the funds to more impactful and inclusive initiatives.