Lagos Airport Reopens After Fire Incident

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially reopened the airspace at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal One in Lagos following a swift response to a sudden fire outbreak.

Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku briefed journalists on Monday, confirming that while the fire caused significant alarm, there were no fatalities. Six individuals sustained injuries during the evacuation and are receiving care.

The disruption forced the diversion of three major international flights—Emirates, British Airways, and Lufthansa—as emergency crews moved to secure the facility.

According to Kuku, the impact on travelers would be short-lived: “Some of our operations were affected; however, they will be back up and running in the next half an hour.”

The Managing Director highlighted that the airport’s primary focus was the safety of passengers and staff. “What is important is that we activated our emergency procedures and evacuated everyone with no fatalities due to coordinated efforts by all agencies,” she said.

The Airport’s Emergency Operations Centre was immediately activated to manage the crisis. Kuku assured the public that the airport manager, acting as the Chief Safety and Security Officer, is following a strict standard procedure to investigate the root cause.

Addressing rumors regarding the site of the fire, Kuku clarified that while renovation projects are ongoing across the airport, no work was being done in the specific area where the blaze ignited.

“In the area we believe the fire started, nothing was happening at the time. People were only moving items out. The fire started from the ground floor, according to our investigations so far. We are awaiting confirmation and cannot say more at this time,” she explained.

The fire reportedly escalated to the roof, necessitating a massive response that included police support and helicopter surveillance to ensure a comprehensive rescue operation.

Moving forward, structural and civil engineers have been deployed to assess the building’s integrity. In the meantime, most flight operations have been shifted, with departures largely moved to the more modern Terminal Two.

Kuku added that four airlines are already scheduled to transition into a temporary terminal, which she described as fully ready for use. “In terms of the full operations affected, I would say not a lot,” she noted, promising that the temporary setup would be fully active within days.

As a final precaution, firefighters remain on the ground to manage lingering smoke and ensure the environment is completely safe for the return of passengers and airport personnel.