The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that he made an emergency trip to Lagos in response to the fire at Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
In a statement issued after the incident, Keyamo said he travelled to Lagos on the night of the fire and arrived at the airport around midnight to assess the situation firsthand.
“I undertook an emergency trip this night to Lagos following the fire incident at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),” the minister said.
He explained that upon arrival, he joined the Managing Director and management team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, who were still on ground coordinating response efforts to ensure the fire was completely contained.
“I arrived the airport at about 12 midnight and joined the Managing Director and management team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who were still actively coordinating response efforts to ensure the fire was fully contained,” he stated.
Keyamo praised FAAN personnel and emergency responders for their swift response, noting that their actions played a key role in protecting lives and reducing the impact of the fire.
“I commended FAAN personnel and first responders for their swift activation of established emergency procedures, noting that their prompt and coordinated actions were instrumental in safeguarding lives and limiting the impact of the incident,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that he directed the FAAN fire department and the Lagos State Fire Service to remain on alert overnight at the airport.
“I directed the fire department of FAAN and the Lagos State Fire Service to maintain an overnight vigil at the airport to ensure that the fire is properly put out,” Keyamo said.
Looking ahead, he said he would carry out an inspection of the airport facilities at daybreak to determine the level of damage caused by the fire.
“At dawn, I will be undertaking a tour of the airport to assess the extent of damage caused by the fire and to give necessary directives,” the minister added.
The fire incident at Terminal 1 had earlier prompted emergency response from multiple agencies, with authorities assuring the public that safety measures were in place while investigations continue.
