A brief history of Nigeria's most popular flight terminal

November 9, 2017 11:45 PM

Carrying over twenty million passengers on a yearly basis, the airport whos code is LOS, is the busiest airport in Nigeria.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which was formerly known as Lagos international airport, is Nigerias most popular flight terminal.

Carrying over twenty million passengers on a yearly basis, the airport whos code is LOS, is the busiest airport in Nigeria, and also one of Africa's busiest.

A brief history of Murtula Muhamed International Airport

There used to be a West African Airways Corporation that was formed in 1947 and had its main base at Ikeja. The airport which was built during World War II was at the time, under the above corporation.

Originally, the airport was known as Lagos International Airport. It would be renamed Muritala Mohammed International Airport in the mid-1970s during construction of the then new international terminal.

Named after Gen. Murtala Muhammed who was a military Head of States from 1975 until he was assassinated in 1976, in an unsuccessful Coup D’état, the international terminal which was officially opened in 1979, was modelled after Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

And as a result of it being an international airport, it is opened to service twenty-four hours daily. The domestic terminal is, however, open for only sixteen hours daily.

With Lagos being the centre of Nigeria's activities, Murtula Muhamed International Airport is known to be the main base for Nigeria’s flag carrier airlines, which are Aero and Arik Air.

Of course, they are not the only airline operating within confines of the airport. There are over forty airlines that fly from Lagos to over sixty destinations worldwide, carrying over twenty million passengers annually.

Be that as it may, the ridiculous state of governance in the country, the facilities that the airport provides for its customers are way behind in comparison to what should be expected.

Mismanagement has succeeded in creating a loop that seems to be giving space to deterioration.

And this is made visible even before admission, from the poor organisation of public transport to the roads that are not in great condition, which usually harbours long traffic jams.

However, the airport is located in Ikeja, a popular suburb of Lagos city of and the capital of Lagos State.

Popularly known for its sleepless nightlife, Ikeja is a home to several top-class hotels, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Femi Kuti’s New Africa Shrine and Lagbaja's Motherlan, both live music venues, are also located in Ikeja.

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