Lagos Airport Imposes N50,000 Overnight Parking Fee Amid N70,000 Minimum Wage Crisis
Lagos Airport Imposes N50,000 Overnight Parking Fee Amid N70,000 Minimum Wage Crisis
A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows visibly frustrated motorists reacting to the new tariff regime, which many say highlights the growing disconnect between government policies and the economic realities faced by ordinary citizens.
Nigerians have expressed outrage over what they describe as “exploitative and insensitive” parking charges at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, with fees rising as high as N50,000 for overnight parking despite the Federal Government’s recently approved N70,000 minimum wage.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows visibly frustrated motorists reacting to the new tariff regime, which many say highlights the growing disconnect between government policies and the economic realities faced by ordinary citizens.
In the footage, one angry motorist lamented the high cost of short-term parking at the airport.
“We just believe everything is normal in this country, bro, it is not normal anymore. Just an hour, N3,500 for car parking at Murtala Muhammad Airport. N3,500 for an hour, that is mad,” he said.
Further details captured in the video reveal a banner displaying the approved rates by the airport management.
According to the banner, motorists are required to pay N50,000 for overnight parking, while SUVs and buses are charged N4,000 per hour. Larger buses, particularly those with 18 seats and above, are billed as much as N20,000.
In addition, a penalty of N25,000 is imposed for lost or damaged parking tickets.
The development has sparked widespread criticism, particularly on social media, where many Nigerians questioned how workers earning the newly approved minimum wage of N70,000 per month are expected to cope with such charges.
Several commentators argued that the fees are not only excessive but also reflect a broader pattern of rising costs of living under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) had earlier criticised the Nigerian Government over what it described as inconsistent payment of wage award arrears and poor welfare conditions for federal employees.
It called for an urgent review of the current national minimum wage, adding that the recent payment of one month of the outstanding wage award to federal workers, with a promise to pay the remaining two months in instalments, reflects what it called the government’s poor treatment of workers.
In a press statement issued in March, signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Andrew Emelieze, and the General Secretary, Ogundele Ayo, the group said the wage award payment has been delayed for nearly two years.
According to the group, the ₦35,000 monthly wage award introduced to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal has been plagued by irregular payments.
“This wage award arrears payment has been lingering since April 2024, almost two years now,” the statement said. “The promise was to pay a monthly ₦35,000 flat to all federal workers to cushion the horrible effects of fuel subsidy removal pending agreement for a new national minimum wage.”
The forum lamented that the payments had been inconsistent and often came only after workers’ agitation and protests.
“It is very painful to note that aside the meagre payment, our government has been very unfaithful in the payment of the wage award,” the group stated. “Most times, it took agitations and protest by the federal workers before the federal government pays the monthly stipend.”
The workers also questioned why the government had not cleared the remaining arrears at once instead of promising instalment payments.
Beyond the wage award arrears, the forum said the government still owed workers several other entitlements, including the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, promotion arrears, duty tour allowances and hazard allowances.
The group also criticised the recently introduced national minimum wage of ₦70,000, arguing that the increase has had little impact on workers’ welfare amid rising living costs.
“The mere fact that the new national minimum wage is ₦70,000 does not mean the federal government should insist on that amount as its minimum wage,” the statement said. “This current minimum wage is too poor and equally disgraceful. There is no way a worker can survive with the paltry salary except we want to deceive ourselves.”
WATCH: VIDEO: Lagos Airport Imposes N50,000 Overnight Parking Fee Amid N70,000 Minimum Wage Crisis pic.twitter.com/xM6ZOisu9r
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 17, 2026
