The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and first responders for their prompt and coordinated response to the fire outbreak at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
In a post on X on Tuesday, the minister said he undertook an emergency trip to Lagos following the incident and arrived at the airport around midnight, where he joined FAAN’s Managing Director and management team as they coordinated containment efforts.
“I undertook an emergency trip this night to Lagos following the fire incident at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). I arrived at the airport at about 12 midnight and joined the Managing Director and management team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who were still actively coordinating response efforts to ensure the fire was fully contained.
“I commended FAAN personnel and first responders for their swift activation of established emergency procedures, noting that their prompt and coordinated actions were instrumental in safeguarding lives and limiting the impact of the incident.
“I directed the fire department of FAAN and the Lagos State Fire Service to maintain an overnight vigil at the airport to ensure that the fire is properly put out. At dawn, I will be undertaking a tour of the airport to assess the extent of damage caused by the fire and to give necessary directives,” the minister stated.
READ ALSO: FAAN Contains Fire Outbreak At MMIA Terminal One, Says Normalcy Restored
Operations Resume
Following the outbreak, which disrupted some airport operations, FAAN confirmed that flight activities have fully resumed.
A Channels Television crew had earlier captured smoke billowing from the Terminal One area on Monday evening.
FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Olubunmi Kuku, said preliminary investigations indicated the fire may have originated from the ground floor of the terminal, where offices and a restaurant are located, before spreading to the roof.
She disclosed that some individuals sustained injuries but confirmed that no fatalities were recorded.
In an update, FAAN said a crane was deployed to support rescue operations at the control tower, enabling the safe evacuation of 14 persons who were initially trapped.
According to the agency, six casualties, three males and three females, were recorded, all of whom are in stable condition. One person was transferred to the FAAN Headquarters Hospital for further medical evaluation and remains stable.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service provided a preliminary account, stating that the fire originated from the IT server room on the third floor of the five-storey E-wing of the departure lounge before it was contained through multi-agency efforts.
In a statement signed by the Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, the service said, “The fire which emanated from the IT Server room on the 3rd floor of the five-storey building by the E-wing of the departure lounge has been confined by the multi-agency efforts. Further updates will be made available in due course.”
Airline Reaction
The disruption affected flight schedules, with Air Peace confirming delays to inbound and outbound flights across its network.
“We empathise with passengers affected by this development and assure the public that we are working closely with relevant airport authorities while closely monitoring the situation,” the airline said.
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