Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has approved the design of a proposed monorail to link Ikeja Railway Station in Lagos to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in the state.

The project is expected to connect the airport to the Lagos Red Line rail network, providing passengers and other airport users with an alternative to road transport.

Mr Keyamo announced the approval on Tuesday after a meeting with the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and engineering teams from the ministry and FAAN.

In a post on X, the minister said the proposed line will have five stations, running from Ikeja Railway Station to the international airport’s Terminal 1, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.

He listed the proposed stations/stops as Ikeja Station, Domestic Airport Station, Beesam Station, Toll Gate Station and MMIA Airport Station.

“The monorail is an integral part of the reconstruction of the nation’s major gateway at the MMIA in Lagos,” Mr Keyamo said.

The design approval follows earlier announcements by the Federal Government about plans to extend rail services from Ikeja to the airport’s domestic and international terminals.

In June, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the government was working with the Lagos State Government to extend the existing rail network to the airport and to expand connectivity.

Recently, Olubunmi Onabanjo-KukuFAAN’she managing directAN, said talks on financing the planned airport rail lint had reached an advanced stage.

Speaking at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, on 18 October, Ms Onabanjo-Kuku stated that efforts were ongoing to finalise the project’s financing structure.

The planned link is expected to connect the airport’s three terminals to the Red Line as part of its wider modernisation programme.

The proposed rail connection forms part of broader efforts to upgrade facilities at the Lagos airport and improve passenger movement.

Terminal 1 of the international airport is undergoing reconstruction, while other infrastructure upgrades are intended to boost airport operations and the passenger experience.

The airport serves as a major gateway for international travel to and from Nigeria, making access to its terminals crucial for passengers and other users.