The Federal Government has said it will demolish two multibillion-naira private jet terminals/aircraft hangars to pave the way for the expansion of the newly inaugurated international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The two private jet terminals belong to Dominion Air, an arm of Living Faith World Outreach (Winners Chapel), and Evergreen Hangar, owned and operated by a private company.
The private jet terminals were obstructing the expansion of the apron size of the new terminal, according to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
He disclosed this during an inspection of facilities at the Lagos airport on Thursday.
He said the apron size of the new international terminal is not adequate to accommodate jumbo planes operating international routes. Private jets belonging to some prominent Nigerians and organisations are expected to be relocated from the two multibillion-naira private jet terminals/hangars ahead of the demolition of the facilities.
As a result, he said the old international terminal would be shut by October 1, while over 25 foreign airlines operating from the facility would be relocated to the new terminal..
Recently, the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the two private jet terminals/hangars were obstructing the efficient use of the international wing of the airport. He, therefore, said the facilities would be demolished, but this couldn’t be done before his tenure expired last May 29.
He said, “Those two hangars, Dominion and Evergreen, will have to go and give way for our airport to be more efficient.”
