The Fire at MMIA has drawn strong assurances from the leadership of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), with safety declared as the agency’s core value. Chairman, Board of Directors, FAAN, Abdullahi Ganduje, described the incident as deeply concerning to board members and stakeholders. However, he stressed that immediate response measures prevented casualties and stabilised the situation.
The incident occurred at Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, one of Nigeria’s busiest international gateways. Meanwhile, FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, announced a comprehensive structural audit of the affected terminal. Therefore, authorities say restoration efforts will be guided strictly by safety and engineering standards. See Video confirming Structural Audit
Fire at MMIA: Board Inspects Damage
Chairman Ganduje explained that the board visited the site to independently assess the damage. He said the Fire at MMIA raised immediate safety concerns for passengers, staff, equipment and infrastructure.
“There’s no doubt when we had the fire outbreak at the International Airport here in Lagos, it was an issue of great concern, especially the board members who believe our core value in FAAN is safety,” he said. “And this really affected the safety of employees, passengers and critical facilities.”
He added that seeing the damage firsthand was necessary for transparency and accountability.
Swift Firefighting Response Contained Crisis
Ganduje commended FAAN’s emergency teams for their rapid intervention during the Fire at MMIA. Over 150 firefighters reportedly worked tirelessly until the blaze was fully extinguished. As a result, no fatalities were recorded.
“We have seen the damage that occurred, but at the same time we have to congratulate the MD and her management team, especially the firefighters who were around until the fire was completely quenched,” he stated.
Although sensitive equipment was destroyed, he confirmed that the situation is now under control. In addition, investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
Structural Audit to Guide Restoration
Managing Director, FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed that engineers will conduct a detailed structural analysis of the burnt terminal. The audit will assess load-bearing integrity, electrical systems and operational infrastructure affected by the Fire at MMIA.
According to FAAN guidelines published on its official portal, safety audits remain mandatory after major incidents (see: https://faan.gov.ng). Therefore, officials insist that reopening timelines will depend strictly on technical clearance.
The Fire at MMIA comes amid broader aviation reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. However, Ganduje maintained that reform momentum remains intact despite the setback.
Reform and Modernisation Efforts Continue
During the visit, the board also inspected ongoing remodelling works at the international terminal. Ganduje described the upgrades as comparable to global standards.
“I thought I was in one of the well-developed foreign international airports,” he said. “The quality of work is beautiful, and it is going to be a big success.”
No Casualties, Investigations Ongoing
Despite the scale of damage, the absence of fatalities remains a critical relief point. Ganduje thanked the media for accurately reporting both the outbreak and its containment.
“We are happy Nigerians were informed that the fire outbreak was controlled,” he said.
As structural assessments proceed, FAAN says passenger safety remains non-negotiable. The Fire at MMIA may have disrupted operations, but leadership insists it will not derail Nigeria’s aviation modernisation agenda.
