Southwest governors, both past and present, have committed over N266 billion to airport construction projects, despite many existing airports in the region being financially unviable. Experts caution that these initiatives are often politically motivated rather than economically justified, leading to abandoned or underutilized facilities that pose ongoing challenges for successive administrations.
Each of the six Southwest states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti—has invested significantly in airport projects. While the Federal Government manages the airports in Ondo and Oyo, state governments are responsible for the remaining projects, many of which remain unfinished. Among them, only Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport stands out as truly viable.
The questionable viability of these investments has raised serious concerns. Out of 22 airports nationwide, only three are profitable, with experts pointing out that many governors pursue these projects against professional advice, often for personal or political gain.
In Ogun State, a series of governors have shifted focus between passenger and cargo airport plans, resulting in an incomplete project with a total spend of over N97 billion. Similarly, Osun State’s airport project, initially budgeted at N4.5 billion in 2012, has seen costs escalate to N69 billion due to expansions and delays, leaving much of the work unfinished.
In Ekiti State, a former governor’s airport project was criticized for lacking economic justification, resulting in a stalled facility after consuming over N16.6 billion of public funds. Lagos State’s plan for a new airport in Lekki, intended to complement Murtala Muhammed Airport, has also seen slow progress despite significant budget allocations. Experts are divided on the necessity of an additional airport, considering potential impacts on the revenue of existing federal airports.
These airport projects across the Southwest exemplify a trend of prioritizing large-scale infrastructure developments without sufficient economic feasibility, leading to substantial financial commitments with uncertain returns.
