Fire outbreak disrupts operations at Murtala Muhammed International Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed a fire outbreak on Monday at Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

The incident, which disrupted operations at the nation’s busiest aviation gateway, prompted an immediate large-scale emergency response from both federal and state agencies.

In an official statement released via X, FAAN disclosed that while the blaze caused significant alarm, no fatalities or injuries have been recorded.

To strengthen containment efforts, the authority activated a mutual aid arrangement, calling for reinforcements from the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The authority confirmed that an orderly evacuation of passengers and airport personnel was successfully executed as firefighters worked to quench the flames.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the incident has renewed the intense public debate regarding the safety and structural integrity of the forty-year-old terminal.

The fire occurs amidst a contentious government plan to completely remodel Terminal One. Last year, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, defended a ₦712 billion allocation to tear down the decrepit and rusty structure.

Keyamo had previously described the facility as being in a state of severe disrepair, citing leaking roofs, failing ceilings, and obsolete baggage carousels.

Despite criticism that the multi-billion naira project is a misplacement of priority during a period of high inflation, the Minister has insisted that the rebuilding is essential to transforming Lagos into a competitive African aviation hub.

Keyamo argued that the current infrastructure stunts growth by preventing seamless passenger transfers between terminals.

FAAN has pledged to provide further updates as the situation is fully contained and an assessment of the damage begins.