Passengers travelling through Nigeria’s international airports may have to wait until late 2025 before enjoying basic internet connectivity, as the government continues to grapple with inter-agency disputes over responsibility for Wi-Fi infrastructure.

During an interview on Sunday Politics, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that the long-standing lack of public Wi-Fi in Nigerian airports stemmed from a dispute between the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).


According to the minister, the matter wasn’t resolved until late 2023, after years of back-and-forth correspondences. By the time a decision was made to assign Wi-Fi implementation to NAMA, the 2024 budget had already been finalised, meaning there were no immediate funds available for deployment.

He added that plans have now been included in the 2025 budget, with expectations to roll out public Wi-Fi in Terminal 2 before the end of next year. Terminal 1, however, will not be upgraded as it is scheduled for complete reconstruction.

Nigerians React Online

The revelation has drawn widespread reactions from Nigerians on social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where Channels TV shared a clip from the interview.

One user, @malstephen, described the explanation as “a lame excuse,” arguing that reliable airport Wi-Fi is a basic global standard.

“I’ve been to different airports around the world. Damn! Wi-Fi so strong and fast. Why hasn’t that been in place since forever?”

Another user, @ng_gwg, offered a more technical explanation: “What I think is happening is they believe public WiFi is the same as what you hang in your office or home. Bandwidth is the culprit. If it’s capped at 100Mbps, more users mean slower connections.”

Some users, however, insisted that they had successfully used public Wi-Fi in Nigerian airports in the past, such as @anyachostan who recalled accessing FAAN-branded Wi-Fi during a 2024 visit.

Others mocked the situation entirely, likening it to past government blunders.


Another observer questioned the lack of urgency: “Would it not have made sense for both agencies to submit quotes for Wi-Fi provision and go with the better plan?” said user @sneakyblings.

The idea that Wi-Fi provision could be delayed due to a lack of budget flexibility was also criticised. Jide Pratt tweeted: “A virement from the Ministry could have had it running for at least two years whilst your agencies argue about ownership.”

Some users cautioned against making comparisons with Western countries, noting that not all airports abroad offer free Wi-Fi.

Free Wi-Fi or Not? The Confusion Remains

Interestingly, some Nigerians maintain that free public Wi-Fi already exists at select airports like Lagos and Abuja, raising questions about why the ministry continues to highlight the absence of such services.

With the 2025 deadline now on the table, the government may face increased scrutiny if progress remains slow. For a country striving to present itself as a major hub in West Africa, the absence of reliable public internet access at its airports continues to fuel frustration and debate.