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ADC demands halt to N712b airport renovation plan
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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says Nigeria’s aviation sector needs proper maintenance, efficiency, and regional airport expansion and not the planned renovation.
The party said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
It described the plan to spend over ₦712 billion renovating Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport as a misplaced priority.
Abdullahi said the decision was outrageous, especially considering the country’s current economic realities.
He questioned the rationale behind spending ₦712 billion to renovate an airport that already received substantial upgrades and remains fully functional.
According to him, the proposed sum — around $500 million — is the same amount used to construct four new airports in 2014.
“These included airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, all built with a Chinese loan still awaiting repayment,” he said.
He recalled that the same Lagos airport had a new terminal commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2022.
Abdullahi said: “Reports then said the terminal sits on 56,000 square metres and features 66 check-in counters.
“It has capacity to process 14 million passengers annually, yet only handled 6.5 million passengers in 2024.
“The terminal was said to include jet bridges, cooling systems, and a 22-room hotel, among other features.”
Abdullahi asked whether it is the same airport now up for renovation or an entirely different one.
He also questioned whether the ₦712 billion project received National Assembly approval or appeared in the current budget.
“We demand to know under what constitutional provision this money is being spent,” he said.
“The ADC called for the immediate suspension of the project and a full independent audit of the proposed budget,” he said
Abdullahi said funds should be redirected to initiatives that would directly impact ordinary Nigerians’ lives.
He noted that ₦712 billion could fund seven teaching hospitals, free education in three zones, rural electrification, or road rehabilitation.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have, in the last 24 hours, rescued 34 kidnap victims, apprehended suspected ISWAP informants and recovered arms and ammunition in coordinated operations nationwide.
This is contained in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
The report said that troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 31 kidnap victims from terrorists along the Buratai-Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno.
It said the rescue followed a swift response after troops of 135 Special Forces Battalion detected ISWAP/JAS terrorists abducting civilians from four vehicles through CCTV surveillance.
According to the report, troops immediately deployed a quick reaction force, engaged the terrorists and forced them to abandon the victims and flee, with one motorcycle left behind.
“In another operation, troops of 145 Battalion conducted a fighting patrol to the Turoh general area of Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area.
“The terrorists reportedly fled on sighting the troops, leaving behind two motorcycles and illicit drugs recovered during exploitation of the area.
“Also, troops of 232 Battalion Tactical apprehended a suspected ISWAP informant at Garaha Market in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa,” it said.
In the North-West, the report revealed that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA engaged terrorists moving with rustled cattle in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
It added that the troops’ superior firepower forced the terrorists to withdraw in disarray during the encounter.
The report also revealed that troops of Operation MESA rescued a kidnapped woman and her two children along the old Obajana-Jakura-Tajimi road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi.
According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted on July 29 from a Ruga settlement in the Gada-Biyu area of the same local government.
“In Plateau State, troops of Operation Enduring Peace responded to reports of an attack on a herder in Bassa Local Government Area.
“The assailants had fled before the troops arrived, while the deceased and recovered cattle were handed over to the victim’s family,” it added.
In the South-East, the report said the troops of Operation UDO KA recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of three suspected terrorists linked to the ambush of troops in Imo on May 4.
It added that the operation, conducted in Delta and Imo states, followed intelligence obtained from earlier arrested suspects.
According to the report, troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, one FN rifle, a pistol, 11 AK-47 magazines, two FN magazines, 239 rounds of assorted ammunition, a fragmentation jacket and other military items from terrorist camps.
“The recovered weapons included rifles earlier carted away during the May ambush on troops, while further exploitation led to the discovery of another terrorist camp containing additional arms and ammunition,” it said.
A joint military task force has rescued a senior Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuanra, after an intensive 10-day search-and-rescue operation across forests and communities in Enugu State.
This was contained in a military operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Abuja.
The breakthrough came in the early hours of Saturday following sustained operations by troops of Sector 1, Operation UDO KA (OPUK).
The search mission involved personnel of the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Rear), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service (NN SBS), and the 197 Special Forces Battalion, operating under the leadership of the Commander, 82 Division Garrison, with support from the Air Component.
According to the report, between 6:00 p.m. on July 31 and 6:00 a.m. on August 1, the joint troops continued search operations using actionable intelligence across Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests and adjoining communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.News
At about 2:00 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Inyi Division alerted the troops to the suspected location of the kidnapped victims.
The troops immediately mobilised and launched a fighting patrol into the area, where they discovered Lt. Col. Amobi and Mr. Onwuanra abandoned at the edge of a forest. The civilian was found with a gunshot wound.
The victims were successfully rescued and evacuated to Inyi before being moved to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for medical treatment and comprehensive evaluation.
During preliminary debriefing, the victims disclosed that they had been blindfolded shortly after their abduction and transported to an unknown location.
They said they were later abandoned in a forest around the Enugu–Anambra border as the kidnappers came under sustained operational pressure.
The military attributed the successful rescue to the relentless pressure mounted by the joint force, supported by the Air Component, which maintained continuous dominance of the suspected hideouts and denied the abductors freedom of movement throughout the 10-day operation.
The sustained search-and-rescue mission ultimately forced the kidnappers to abandon the captives and flee.
Further investigations and follow-up operations are ongoing to identify, track and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
Fire has engulfed Lagos airport’s Terminal 2.
FAAN said its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to contain the fire.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that a fire incident has occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” the statement read.
“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation.”
FAAN said there were no reported casualties or loss of life.
“There have been no reported casualties or loss of life,” the authority stated.
It added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
Troops rescue 34 abductees, nab ISWAP informant, recover arms
Joint military task force rescue kidnapped Lt Col, civilian after 10-day search operation
JUST IN: Fire engulfs Lagos airport’s Terminal 2
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