Fire Traps 14 in Control Tower as Lagos Airport Terminal Goes Up in Flames

A fire outbreak at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Monday afternoon trapped 14 people in the facility’s control tower, forced the temporary closure of Lagos airspace, and diverted multiple inbound flights as thick black smoke billowed across Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria confirmed that all trapped personnel were successfully rescued using a crane deployed to the control tower, and that six individuals sustained minor injuries and remain in stable condition. No fatalities were recorded. One of the injured was transferred to the FAAN Headquarters Hospital for further evaluation.

FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku said preliminary investigations indicate the fire originated in the server room on the first floor of Terminal 1 around 3:20 pm, then spread rapidly to the roof and other sections of the departure hall before firefighters brought it largely under control.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke rising from the terminal shortly after 3:00 pm, triggering panic as passengers, staff, and airport users scrambled to evacuate. FAAN activated emergency protocols immediately, deploying firefighting teams alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, and other emergency partners.

“Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to contain the situation. No loss of life has been recorded,” FAAN said in its initial statement on X (formerly Twitter). The authority later confirmed that passengers and airport personnel were being evacuated in an orderly manner as firefighters worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to adjoining sections.

Margaret Adeseye, Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that coordinated firefighting operations remained active into Monday evening, with responders maintaining close monitoring to prevent re-ignition.

In line with established safety protocols, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency temporarily closed the airspace above MMIA while authorities established a temporary control tower to facilitate the safe resumption of airport operations. At least three inbound flights were diverted to alternative airports, including Abuja and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

By late Monday evening, FAAN confirmed that flight operations had resumed after the fire was contained. “We continue to collaborate with relevant emergency and support agencies to safeguard lives, infrastructure, and operational integrity,” the authority said.

The fire has raised fresh questions about the structural integrity and safety of Terminal 1, which has been undergoing rehabilitation ahead of its planned closure. FAAN confirmed that civil and structural engineers would assess the building before fully resuming operations in the affected sections.

The sixth floor of the facility was completely evacuated as a precaution to support ongoing firefighting operations and reduce risk to infrastructure. FAAN clarified that although renovation works are ongoing within the airport premises, no construction was taking place in the affected area at the time of the fire.

Terminal 1, commissioned in 1979, was originally designed as a regional hub but has long been marked for complete demolition and reconstruction. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo disclosed in 2024 that the Federal Government plans to tear down the terminal entirely, leaving only the pillars and structural framework, as part of broader efforts to modernise MMIA and transform it into a competitive African aviation hub.

Most international operations have already been moved to Terminal 2, and a temporary terminal is nearing activation, limiting the broader operational impact of Monday’s incident. However, the fire underscores persistent infrastructure vulnerabilities at Nigeria’s primary international gateway, which handles the country’s highest volume of passenger and cargo traffic.

FAAN has pledged to provide further verified updates as investigations into the cause of the fire continue. The authority commended the “courage, synergy, and rapid intervention” of first responders and emergency partners, emphasising that all emergency procedures were activated promptly.

For now, airport operations have resumed, but the incident marks one of several fire-related disruptions at MMIA’s aging Terminal 1, and reinforces the urgency of the terminal’s planned demolition and reconstruction.

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