The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reopened the airspace and resumed activities at Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after a fire incident temporarily disrupted operations at the facility.
The outbreak, which occurred on Monday, February 23, 2026, triggered panic in parts of the airport and led to significant operational adjustments. Although no fatalities were recorded, six individuals sustained injuries and were promptly attended to by emergency responders.
Speaking to journalists, FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed that swift action by airport authorities helped prevent further damage and casualties. She explained that emergency protocols were immediately activated once the fire was detected. The airport’s Emergency Operations Centre coordinated the response, with the Airport Manager serving as the Chief Safety and Security Officer throughout the incident.
As a precautionary measure, passengers and airport personnel in affected areas were safely evacuated while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. The quick response limited the spread of the fire and allowed authorities to stabilize the situation within hours.
However, the incident disrupted several flight schedules. Three major international carriers — Emirates, British Airways, and Lufthansa — were forced to divert their inbound flights to alternative destinations due to safety concerns and temporary airspace restrictions.
To ease congestion and maintain operations, airport authorities relocated most departing flights to Terminal Two, while arrivals were reassigned to other functional areas within the airport complex. In addition, four airlines are set to operate from a temporary terminal facility arranged to support ongoing services as normalcy gradually returns.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have originated from the ground floor of the terminal building before spreading to the roof. However, FAAN emphasized that a thorough assessment is still underway to determine the exact cause. Mrs. Kuku noted that while renovation work is currently ongoing at the airport, no active construction was taking place at the specific location where the fire started. According to her, workers were only in the process of relocating equipment and materials at the time of the incident.
Authorities have assured the public that further updates will be provided once investigations are concluded. Meanwhile, flight operations are steadily normalizing as safety assessments continue across the affected sections of the terminal.
0 Comments