Elegbede Abiodun
Megastarmagazine reports that the Federal Government has provided the latest news on the fire that broke out at Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, confirming that all trapped personnel have been rescued and six injured people are in stable condition as emergency teams continue to work to contain the blaze.
In a statement on Monday evening, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said coordinated firefighting, rescue and safety operations remained active following the outbreak at the departure terminal and control tower.
FAAN confirmed that a crane was deployed to aid rescue efforts at the control tower, where 14 people were initially trapped during the fire, saying all were safely rescued and evacuated from the facility without fatal injuries.
“Of the six casualties recorded, comprising three male and three female, all are stable, with one person transferred to the FAAN Headquarters Hospital for further evaluation, the statement said.
According to FAAN, preliminary findings by the fire service indicated that the blaze began in the server room on the first floor of Terminal 1 and later spread to other sections of the departure hall.
It said firefighters had largely brought that part of the terminal under control, though close monitoring continued to prevent further spread.
As a precaution, the authority disclosed that the sixth floor of the affected facility had been completely evacuated to support ongoing operations and reduce risk to lives and infrastructure.
In line with established safety protocols, the statement added that the airspace above MMIA remained temporarily closed while authorities work to establish a temporary control tower through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which would help facilitate the safe and orderly restoration of airport operations.
Flights into and out of Lagos have been disrupted, with several international services diverted and airlines like Air Peace announcing temporary suspension of operations to affected terminals as responders tackle the situation.
FAAN emphasised that all emergency procedures were promptly activated and that it was working closely with emergency partners to safeguard lives and protect critical airport infrastructure.
“We continue to collaborate with relevant emergency and support agencies to safeguard lives, infrastructure and operational integrity,” the authority said.
This incident marks one of several fire-related disruptions at MMIA’s older Terminal 1, which has been undergoing rehabilitation ahead of its planned closure, highlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges amid high traffic levels at Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub.
FAAN said further verified updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
