Lagos' airport traces its roots to a World War II-era airfield at Ikeja used by British West African air links, which evolved into Nigeria's principal international gateway after independence. The modern international terminal opened in 1979, its design closely modeled on Amsterdam's Schiphol.
The airport was named for General Murtala Muhammed, the Nigerian head of state assassinated in 1976. Through the oil-boom decades it became the busiest airport in Nigeria and one of the most important in Africa, even as national carrier Nigeria Airways declined and finally collapsed in 2003.
Domestic flights consolidated at separate terminals on the site of the original airport across the field, including the privately developed MMA2 terminal opened in 2007. A new Chinese-built international Terminal 2 opened in 2022, adding badly needed capacity.
Homegrown carriers like Air Peace, Ibom Air and United Nigeria rebuilt the domestic market. Today Murtala Muhammed International is West Africa's dominant gateway, hosting long-haul links to Europe, the Middle East. The Americas, and Air Peace has used it as the launchpad for Nigeria's return to long-haul flying, including direct service to London.