Mahdi Shehu questions N25bn airport chapel project, demands religious fairness
Accuses Federal Government of bias in allocation and approval process
Calls for equal treatment of Muslims in airport worship infrastructure
Public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised the Federal Government over the proposed N25 billion ecumenical chapel project at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, alleging bias in favour of Christian interests.
Shehu made his comments in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday night, reacting to the official flag-off of the project reportedly attended by senior government officials and leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
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According to him, the presence of top government figures at the event signals full presidential backing for the initiative.
“For this project to be flagged off by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Aviation Minister means the President is fully aware and has given his consent,” he said.
The project, flagged off on April 26, 2026, was described by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as a “confluence of faith and progress” designed to cater for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of airport users.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, also defended the initiative, noting that travellers require a peaceful environment to “regain their calm before they enter the aeroplane.”
However, Shehu questioned the priorities behind the investment, particularly at a time of widespread economic challenges in the country. He also raised concerns about the allocation of land and federal approval processes for the project.
He further argued that the development raises concerns about religious balance in public infrastructure, asking when similar provisions would be made for Muslim travellers.
“When will equal financial contribution be provided to the Muslim faithful as was done for CAN?” he asked.
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He also questioned whether Muslim leaders in government would receive similar support if a mosque project were initiated at the airport.
“When will some Muslim ministers be sent to perform the same role?” he added.
Shehu warned that unequal treatment in such projects could fuel perceptions of bias within government institutions, insisting that fairness must be reflected in national infrastructure planning.
He likened the situation to an “unbalanced equation,” arguing that lack of parity risks deepening divisions.
“This N25 billion project is an equation with two variables, one known and the other unknown. For the picture to become clear, the equation must be balanced otherwise it remains the case of unfair allocation,” he said.
The Federal Government has not officially responded to Shehu’s remarks at the time of filing this report.
