A fire outbreak at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on the night of Monday, February 23, 2026, triggered a swift and coordinated emergency response that successfully contained the blaze before it could cause greater devastation. Flight operations were briefly suspended but have since resumed, and authorities have confirmed that no lives were lost.
How The Fire Was Put Out
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, immediately deployed its firefighting team upon the outbreak of the fire.
Recognising that the situation required broader support, FAAN activated mutual aid arrangements, calling in reinforcements from the Lagos State Government, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.
The combined effort of these agencies working together through the night was critical in bringing the fire under control and preventing it from spreading further across the terminal and adjoining facilities.
What They Said
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo did not mince words when he arrived on the scene. He described the overnight response as decisive and commended the agencies involved.
He confirmed that those hospitalised following the incident are responding positively to treatment. FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku confirmed that a remote control tower was deployed to restore flight activities and that a temporary terminal outside the Airport Operations Centre had been activated to ensure minimal disruption to passengers and airlines.
