A major fire outbreak yesterday afternoon severely disrupted operations at the international wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, forcing several foreign airlines—including British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates—to divert inbound flights to Abuja and airports in neighbouring countries.
The inferno affected Terminal 1 (the old terminal), which is currently undergoing massive reconstruction by the Federal Government.
The blaze, which started around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026, also led to the temporary evacuation of 12 air traffic controllers from the control tower using cranes and specialised equipment as emergency responders battled thick smoke and intense heat.
Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed the incident and stated that the exact cause is yet to be determined.
She noted that FAAN immediately activated its emergency response plan, prioritising the safety of lives and critical infrastructure.
Kuku reported that no lives were lost, but six people sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention. Their condition is described as stable.
Despite the scale of the incident, she said emergency mechanisms functioned as designed, ensuring safe evacuation of everyone in the affected areas.
The fire caused significant disruption, prompting FAAN to establish a temporary departure hall and deploy a remote control tower to reduce the impact on flight movements and passenger processing.
Kuku said: “Despite the magnitude of the incident, our emergency response mechanisms worked as designed. We ensured that everyone within the affected areas was safely evacuated.”
She added that FAAN, in collaboration with emergency and security agencies, is working round the clock to bring the situation under full control and restore normal operations.
Efforts are also underway to relocate some operations to the new terminal, especially as renovation works continue at the old terminal.
A team of professionals from the building and engineering sectors will conduct a comprehensive structural integrity assessment to determine the full extent of damage.
Kuku commended the swift support from the Lagos State Government, Nigeria Air Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Police Force, and other agencies that assisted in the response.
She noted that preliminary findings suggest the fire originated on the ground floor of the terminal before spreading to other parts.
The incident affected three major international carriers, which were forced to divert flights.
MMIA, Nigeria’s busiest and West Africa’s largest airport, is undergoing a ₦712.25 billion renovation that began last year. The old terminal is scheduled for total shutdown next month, with operations transitioning to a New Temporary Terminal and Terminal 2 during the construction period.
The airport, originally built in 1979 and named after Nigeria’s military head of state General Murtala Muhammed (who ruled from July 1975 until his assassination in a failed coup on February 13, 1976), has experienced similar incidents in the past. On September 6, 2023, a suspected electrical spark at the baggage hall ceiling caused a smoke incident in Terminal 1.
Investigations into the cause of Monday’s fire are ongoing, and passengers are advised to contact their airlines for updates on flight status.
