- Joint National Assembly Committees on Aviation conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the fire damage at Terminal 1.
- Lawmakers commend the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for achieving operational stability within three hours.
- Official investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage to critical navigation equipment.
Members of the National Assembly have initiated a formal inquiry into the fire incident that ravaged the Terminal 1 wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Monday.
Eko Hot Blog reports that a joint delegation from the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation arrived at the nation’s busiest airport on Thursday for an on-the-spot assessment of the facility.
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Following a tour of the scorched sections, the lawmakers held a closed-door session with the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), led by its Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, to discuss the immediate impact on aviation safety and infrastructure.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, addressed the media after the inspection, emphasizing that the legislature would refrain from speculation regarding the cause of the blaze, including rumors of sabotage until a formal report is presented.
He noted that while the destruction of property was significant, the primary concern of the “Renewed Hope” administration remains the safety of lives. Senator Buhari expressed relief that no casualties were recorded during the emergency, despite the fire occurring in a high-traffic area of the terminal.
According to the lawmakers, FAAN’s emergency response protocols were effectively activated, allowing for the diversion of international flights to Accra and Malabo during the peak of the crisis.
By midnight on the day of the incident, major carriers like Emirates and Lufthansa were already able to resume landings at the airport, a feat the committee described as a testament to the management’s high level of readiness.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, echoed these sentiments, praising MD Olubunmi Kuku for achieving operational stability within just three hours of the outbreak.
Earlier, the Chairman of the FAAN Board, Abdullahi Ganduje, expressed deep concern over the loss of “very sensitive” equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Ganduje noted that the incident posed a temporary setback to the ongoing industry reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He specifically lauded the bravery of over 150 firefighters who battled the inferno to ensure it did not spread to the newer sections of the international terminal or lead to a total shutdown of the airspace.
As the internal and security investigations continue, the National Assembly has pledged to provide the necessary legislative support to restore the damaged terminal.
The joint committee is expected to receive a detailed technical report in the coming weeks, which will outline the financial requirements for reconstruction and suggest measures to prevent future occurrences.
For now, MMIA Terminal 1 remains partially cordoned off, though international and domestic operations have successfully transitioned to a state of normalcy under heightened security and safety monitoring.
