… … Airspace temporarily closed
Chaos erupted at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Monday February 23, 2026, when fire broke out at Terminal 1, forcing passengers and staff to flee and temporarily disrupting flight operations.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that all 14 individuals trapped in the Control Tower were rescued safely.
Six persons, comprising three men and three women, were treated for injuries and are in stable condition.
Eyewitnesses said smoke billowed from the terminal around 3:20 pm.
FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, said investigations into the fire, believed to have started in the terminal’s server room, were ongoing.
Civil and structural engineers, it was stated, have begun assessment of the building’s safety, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is setting up a temporary Control Tower to resume operations.
Three international flights, including British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates, were diverted.
Kuku assured that flight operations would resume shortly.
The terminal is undergoing a N712billion rehabilitation approved last year.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, defended the project, saying: “The terminal, built in 1979, has seen minimal upgrades and is in a state of decay. This overhaul is essential to meet global aviation standards and expand capacity.”
The contract, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), will rebuild the terminal with modern systems over 22 months.
Critics, including the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), have called for a public audit of the project.
FAAN and the Ministry of Aviation have promised updates on the investigation and the full resumption of flight operations as soon as possible.