The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has approved the design of a proposed monorail system that will link Ikeja Railway Station to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The planned project is expected to improve transportation to and from the airport by providing rail connectivity from the Ikeja terminus of the Lagos Red Line, giving passengers and other commuters an alternative to road travel.
Keyamo announced the development on Tuesday after 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 both organisations.
According to the minister, the proposed monorail will feature five stations along its route, connecting Ikeja to Terminal 1 of the international airport, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.
Speaking about the project, Keyamo said,
“Yesterday, I was 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.
“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 approval represents another step towards the Federal Government’s plan to improve rail access to Lagos airport and strengthen transportation links across the state.
In June, Keyamo disclosed that the Federal Government was collaborating with the Lagos State Government on plans to extend the existing rail network from Ikeja to both the domestic and international airport terminals.
FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, had also revealed on October 18 that discussions on financing the proposed airport rail link had reached an advanced stage.
When completed, the project is expected to connect the airport’s three terminals to the Lagos Red Line, forming part of a broader initiative to modernise the country’s major international aviation gateway.
The airport’s modernisation programme includes the ongoing reconstruction of Terminal 1 and other infrastructure improvements designed to enhance passenger movement and operational efficiency.
International flight services are continuing under temporary arrangements while the reconstruction work progresses.
Although the design has received approval, Keyamo did not announce when construction would begin or provide a projected completion date.
