The Muritala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) will be temporarily closed beginning on October 1, 2023, according to a statement from the federal government.

Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, made this announcement on Thursday and ordered all foreign airlines to depart the airport’s grounds to make room for extensive maintenance work.

Keyamo revealed this while on a tour of the international airports in Lagos with Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.

While speaking at the sideline of the airport tour, the Minister directed the airlines and companies operating in the airport to move to the new terminal, MMIA Terminal Two, constructed by the Chinese company.

Keyamo also suspended all contracts, projects, and concessions in the sector until further notice.

“All airlines should vacate the MMIA before the 1st of October, 2023 and relocate to MMIA terminal two,” the Minister said.