MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights

Nigeria’s Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, SAN, made an unscheduled late-night journey from Abuja to Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, to personally oversee the emergency response and initial recovery efforts after a serious fire broke out at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

The Minister arrived at the airport complex shortly before midnight, around 11:50 p.m., and immediately joined the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, and the full management team. They had been on-site since the incident began earlier that afternoon, directing containment operations and coordinating with emergency services.

Incident Overview and Casualties

The fire, which reportedly emanated from the IT server room on the third floor of the E-wing, disrupted evening flight schedules, forced diversions of international carriers—including British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates—and caused significant passenger inconvenience.

FAAN officials confirmed that while the blaze was brought under control without fatalities, 14 persons were initially trapped in the control tower before being rescued via a construction crane. Six casualties (three males and three females) were treated for smoke inhalation and are reported to be in stable condition.

Ministerial Directives and Inspection

Mr. Keyamo publicly commended FAAN personnel, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and private sector partners like Julius Berger and CCECC for their rapid activation of emergency procedures. He credited their coordinated actions with preventing a far worse outcome and limiting the spread of the fire, which eventually reached the roof.

While on the ground, the Minister issued the following instructions:

• Joint Inspection: FAAN management and aviation regulatory bodies must reconvene at the airport by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, for a comprehensive safety evaluation.

• Integrity Assessment: Civil and structural engineers will assess the building’s integrity to determine the extent of infrastructure damage.

• Restoration Protocol: A clear timeline for safely restoring full operations will be established following the morning assessment.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s priority on passenger safety and the fastest possible return to normal service at MMIA, Nigeria’s busiest gateway.

Context of Renovation

The incident occurred as Terminal 1 is undergoing a massive ₦712 billion modernization project approved in late 2025. FAAN MD Olubunmi Kuku clarified that while projects are ongoing at the airport, no active work was being conducted in the specific area where the fire originated at the time of the outbreak.