The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has attributed the lack of Wi-Fi at Nigeria’s international airports to a prolonged dispute between two of his ministry’s agencies.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, Keyamo revealed that the disagreement between the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had stalled progress on providing internet access.
“When I assumed office, one of the first issues I encountered was the argument over who should handle Wi-Fi provision,” Keyamo said. “NAMA insisted that, based on its mandate—which includes navigation equipment, radio, and communication—it should be responsible.”
However, FAAN countered, arguing that Wi-Fi falls under airport infrastructure, which is its statutory responsibility. “FAAN maintained that because Wi-Fi is part of the airport’s infrastructure, it should manage it,” he explained.
The deadlock continued until late 2023, when Keyamo intervened and resolved that NAMA should take charge, directing FAAN to step aside on the matter.
Despite this resolution, the project could not proceed under the 2024 budget as it had already been passed. The minister confirmed that the Wi-Fi initiative has now been included in the 2025 budget.
He assured Nigerians that by the end of 2025, functional Wi-Fi would be available at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Keyamo also disclosed plans for a Public-Private Partnership to ensure the successful rollout of the Wi-Fi project across Nigeria’s major airports.