The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria’s aviation agency, has announced that all flight operations have been diverted from Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 to the D wing of the airport due to a fire incident.
The fire started around 5:29 a.m. on Thursday, prompting engineers at the airport to disconnect power from the entire E wing to contain the blaze.
According to a statement signed by Obiageli Orah, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, smoke was initially detected emanating from the E54 bridge, which eventually turned into a fire. The incident caused panic among airport staff and travelers, with some reportedly fleeing the scene.
FAAN, in collaboration with the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team, swiftly responded to the emergency, arriving at the location by 5:30 a.m.
Although a thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause, initial investigations suggest that sparks from an electrical unit may have caused the fire.
By 6:41 am, the ARFFS team had successfully contained the fire, and they are currently working to ventilate the building’s smoke.
As a precautionary measure, all flight operations in Terminal 1 have been redirected to the D wing until further notice.
FAAN has assured the public that more details will be provided shortly and that the safety of passengers and staff remains their top priority.
Credit: The Punch Newspapers