By Amofokhai Williams
A fire outbreak erupted at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Monday, prompting an immediate emergency response and evacuation of passengers and airport staff.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which manages the country’s major airports, confirmed the incident in an initial statement and provided a detailed update shortly afterward via its official X account.
Emergency firefighting teams from FAAN are actively working to contain and fully extinguish the blaze, with operations ongoing as of the latest report.
To bolster containment efforts, FAAN has activated mutual aid protocols and requested reinforcements from multiple agencies and private entities, including the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), and other relevant emergency services.
FAAN emphasized that no loss of life has been recorded at this time, with all measures prioritized to protect lives and property.
FAAN said passengers and personnel were evacuated in an orderly manner, and there are no immediate reports of widespread injuries or structural collapse, though the full extent of damage, particularly to the older section of Terminal 1, which has been undergoing multi-billion-naira rehabilitation and renovation, remains under assessment.
Terminal 1, primarily handling domestic flights and some international operations during peak periods, is a critical part of MMIA’s infrastructure, serving millions of travelers annually.
Social media footage and eyewitness accounts circulating online showed thick black smoke billowing from the terminal building, with fire trucks deployed and emergency personnel on scene.
Flight operations may face disruptions or diversions as a result, though FAAN has not yet issued specific advisories on cancellations or rerouting.
