Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) serves Lagos, Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital with over 20 million people. The airport is located in Ikeja, 22 km north of Lagos Island and Victoria Island business districts.

The airport has two terminals:

• MMA1 (Domestic Terminal): Domestic flights
• MMA2 (International Terminal): All international flights, opened 2007

The terminals are separate buildings requiring road transport between them.

Key airlines: Air Peace (Nigeria's largest), Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, Egypt Air, and various African carriers.

Lagos traffic is notoriously congested:

• To Victoria Island/Ikoyi: 22 km, 45-120+ minutes
• To Lagos Island: 20 km, 40-90+ minutes
• To Ikeja GRA: 5 km, 15-30 minutes
• To Lekki: 35 km, 60-150+ minutes

Travel times are highly traffic-dependent. Avoid rush hours (07:00-10:00, 16:00-20:00) if possible.

Uber and Bolt operate in Lagos—recommended for safety and fixed pricing.

• To Victoria Island: NGN 15,000-25,000 (~$10-17 USD)
• To Lagos Island: NGN 12,000-20,000
• To Ikeja: NGN 5,000-8,000
• To Lekki Phase 1: NGN 20,000-35,000

Airport taxis available from authorized stands:

• Fixed rates posted (often higher than rideshare)
• Use only official, marked taxis

Important: Do not use unofficial taxis. Always confirm vehicle details via app.

Public transit options to Lagos are limited and not recommended for visitors:

BRT Bus

Lagos BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) operates routes but doesn't directly serve the airport.

Airport Shuttle

Some hotels offer airport pickup—confirm when booking.

Recommendation: Use Uber/Bolt or hotel shuttle. Public transport is challenging for first-time visitors.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
MMA1 Parking	NGN 1,000/day	Domestic terminal
MMA2 Parking	NGN 2,500/day	International terminal

Parking is inexpensive but airport areas can be chaotic.

Dining options are limited:

MMA2 (International Terminal):

• Cafés and fast food
• Basic restaurants
• Snack shops

MMA1 (Domestic):

• More limited options
• Snack bars

Eat before arriving at the airport if possible. Quality and variety are limited.

Network: Free WiFi available

• Cost: Free (limited)
• Speed: Unreliable
• Consider purchasing data for your phone instead

SIM cards available from:

• MTN, Glo, Airtel kiosks in arrivals
• Prices: NGN 2,000-5,000 (~$1.50-3.50) for SIM with data

Registration requires passport and biometric capture. 4G coverage is good in Lagos.

ATMs available in both terminals:

• GTBank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank

Currency: Nigerian Naira (NGN). Approximate rate: 1,500 NGN = 1 USD.

Currency exchange: Bureau de change in arrivals. Rates are poor—ATMs or city exchanges are better.

Tips:

• Nigeria has cash flow issues; ATMs sometimes run out
• Bring some USD cash as backup
• Cards accepted at upscale establishments; cash needed elsewhere

MMA2 Airside:

• Duty-free (alcohol, perfumes, electronics)
• Nigerian handicrafts
• Basic retail

Selection is limited. Major shopping should be done in Lagos (Ikeja City Mall, Palms Shopping Mall).

Gabfol Lounge (MMA2)

• Location: International departures
• Access: Priority Pass, some credit cards, or $40-50 walk-in
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi
• Hours: Open for flight schedules

Air Peace Premium Lounge

• Location: MMA1 (Domestic)
• Access: Air Peace premium passengers

Bidvest Premier Lounge

• Location: International departures
• Access: Priority Pass, business class
• Amenities: Nigerian and international food, drinks

Lounges provide a calm escape from the busy terminal.

Hotels near the airport are in Ikeja, a safe, convenient area:

Lagos is Africa's largest city—chaotic, energetic, and the continent's entertainment and business capital:

Areas to explore (with travel time from airport):

• Victoria Island: 60-90 min—upscale restaurants, bars, business district
• Lekki: 90-120 min—beaches, art galleries, Conservation Centre
• Lagos Island: 60-90 min—historic center, National Museum, markets
• Ikeja GRA: 20 min—tree-lined residential area, malls, restaurants

Top attractions:

• Lekki Conservation Centre: Canopy walkway through mangrove forest
• Nike Art Gallery: Four floors of Nigerian art, largest gallery in West Africa
• Freedom Park: Former colonial prison turned cultural venue
• National Museum: Nigerian history and Benin bronzes
• Badagry: Historic slave trade route, 1 hour west

Nightlife: Lagos has Africa's best nightlife scene—Afrobeats clubs on Victoria Island and Lekki.

Food & drink:

• Jollof rice: West African tomato rice—national obsession
• Suya: Spiced grilled meat, street food staple
• Egusi soup: Melon seed soup with vegetables
• Pepper soup: Spicy broth with fish or goat meat
• Star/Gulder/Guinness: Popular local beers
• Chapman: Non-alcoholic fruit cocktail

Practical tips:

• Traffic: Lagos traffic ("go-slow") is legendary; plan accordingly
• Safety: Use rideshare apps, avoid walking alone at night, stay aware
• Yellow fever: Vaccination certificate required
• Visa: Required for most nationalities; apply in advance
• Power: Frequent outages (NEPA/PHCN); hotels have generators
• Bargaining: Expected in markets; not in malls/restaurants
• Dry season (November-March) is best; rainy season (April-October) has flooding
• Friday nights: Lagos comes alive—great time to experience nightlife
• Cash: Have Nigerian Naira; USD sometimes accepted at upscale places