Lagos Airport: The Gateway to Africa's Largest City

Getting there, at a glance

Amenities, at a glance

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (IATA: LOS) is Nigeria’s busiest airport and the main international gateway to Lagos, Africa’s largest city by population, serving more than 8 million passengers a year. It sits about 22 km (14 mi) from Lagos Island, the historic commercial heart of the city.

Overview

LOS operates two main terminal areas — the domestic MM2 terminal and the international MMIA terminal — serving as the primary entry point to an enormous and fast-growing megacity. As Nigeria’s main gateway, the airport connects West Africa’s largest economy to an extensive domestic network plus international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria puts LOS’s traffic at more than 7 million passengers a year, and it recorded the fastest air-traffic growth of any major airport in Africa in 2025.

Terminals

• MM2 (Domestic): Handles domestic flights across Nigeria.
• MMIA (International): Handles all international arrivals and departures, including Air Peace’s growing long-haul network.

Airlines

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline by fleet size, operates its main base at LOS with an extensive domestic network across the country plus a growing international portfolio including long-haul routes. As Nigeria’s primary gateway, LOS also handles significant traffic from major international carriers connecting Lagos to the rest of the world.

How to Get There

• Taxi: ₦5,000–10,000 via the official taxi counter inside the terminal, about 40–60 minutes depending on Lagos’s notoriously heavy traffic.
• Uber / Bolt: Generally comparable in price to a taxi, about 40–60 minutes — both apps are widely used in Lagos.
• Danfo bus: The cheapest option by far, but not recommended for travelers with luggage given crowding and informal routes.

Prices above are indicative and can change — always check current fares with your ride-hailing app or the airport’s official taxi counter.

Getting Through Security and Passport Control

• Domestic flights: Security only. Typically 15–25 minutes off-peak, up to 30–45 minutes during busy periods.
• International flights: Security plus passport control. Typically 25–40 minutes off-peak, up to 45–65 minutes during peak international departure banks.
• As Nigeria’s main international gateway, LOS handles a significant volume of passengers — build in extra buffer time given the airport’s overall traffic levels.

Parking

LOS has parking available at both terminal areas, with clear signage for short- and long-stay options.

Wifi

Free wifi is available in the terminal with a time-limited free session.

Best Times to Arrive

• Domestic flights: 90 minutes before departure is typically enough.
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours ahead, especially given Lagos’s traffic and the airport’s overall passenger volume.
• Lagos traffic is notoriously heavy and unpredictable — always build substantial extra buffer time into your journey to the airport, regardless of time of day.

Where to Eat

LOS has a solid selection of Nigerian and West African cuisine alongside more standard airport dining options.

Lounges

• The Air Peace Lounge is available for eligible business class passengers, elite status holders, or paid access.
• Several Priority Pass-affiliated lounges are also available.

Duty-Free Shopping

LOS’s duty-free zone includes Nigerian textiles and local crafts alongside a more limited selection of standard international brands compared to larger global hubs.

Airport Map

This is a simplified layout to help you get oriented — for real-time, gate-by-gate wayfinding, use FAAN’s official resources.

Useful Links

• Official airport authority (FAAN) — terminal info, services, flight status.
• Air Peace — flight schedules and connections.

Long Layover Tips

• With 5+ hours and a visa situation permitting entry, central Lagos and Lagos Island are reachable by taxi, though always budget significant time given the city’s traffic.
• If staying airside, the Air Peace Lounge offers a comfortable option for a longer wait.
• Given Lagos’s traffic is genuinely unpredictable at almost any hour, never cut it close on the return trip to the airport — leave far more buffer time than you’d expect to need.