The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned the plans by the government of President Bola Tinubu to spend ₦712 billion on the renovation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The ADC, in a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the planned expenses as reckless and insensitive.

It also questioned whether the National Assembly approved the planned expenditure, which it described as a brazen act of fiscal recklessness.

Abdullahi, in the statement, questioned why the government wants to spend such vast amounts on an airport that has recently undergone significant upgrades while Nigerians struggle with poverty.

Naijaonpoint reports that the Airport terminal upgrade was part of the decisions reached during the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

However, the ADC argued that the Muhammed International Airport in Lagos remains functional and serviceable, and the funds could be better utilised in other areas that have a direct impact on citizen welfare.

The full statement read, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the outrageous ₦712 billion airport renovation project announced by the Tinubu administration as another brazen act of fiscal recklessness and official insensitivity which further confirms how far this APC government is removed from the reality of the suffering people of Nigeria.

“It is hard to understand how expending ₦712 billion into renovating an airport that already received significant upgrades in recent years makes fiscal sense in a country where public universities wallow in chronic austerity, where basic medical care, has become a luxury that only the rich can afford, where millions of Nigerians have been thrown into poverty as a result of government’s ill-conceived policies.

“The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos remains functional and serviceable. What the aviation sector needs is not another gold-plated terminal, but proper maintenance, enhanced efficiency and the expansion of regional airports to boost real connectivity across Nigeria.”