Confusion erupted in the early hours of Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos when a suspicious electrical spark ignited a fire at the E54 wing of the old terminal. Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) swiftly responded, containing the fire to prevent it from spreading further.
Mrs. Obiageli Orah, spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed the incident and praised the quick intervention of electrical engineers who promptly cut off power supply to the affected E Wing section. As a precaution, all flight operations at terminal One of the Lagos International Airport were diverted to the D Wing.
While the initial suspicion points to sparks from an electrical unit, Orah stated that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. Sources at the airport reported that the incident occurred around 3:30 am and that the fire was under control by 06:41 hours. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building were ongoing.
