Electrical Spark Ignites Fire at MMIA, Lagos

Chinedu Eze

Urgent intervention of the fire fighters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) saved the baggage handling area of the old international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The Director  of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection,  of FAAN, Mr. Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, explained in a statement that at approximately 0723 hours (7:23 am, Nigerian time) yesterday, a suspected electrical  spark  at the baggage hall ceiling ignited a fire, and wafted  smoke that spiralled into the air, causing heavy panic, creating fear that the whole terminal was on fire.

Yakubu-Funtua, said the source  of the smoke was identified as a burning  lithium inverter battery installation  at the basement of the facility.

“Promptly responding to the situation at  0730 hours the dedicated firefighters from the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport  and the Electrical  Department  of the Authority  initiated immediate action.

“Their swift response and professional efforts have successfully brought the situation under control,” the statement stated.

The agency said when the incident happened, the firefighters and rescue team evacuated everybody in the terminal and because it was early morning, only very few people were using the terminal who were largely airport staff.

“In accordance with our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of passengers, staff, and all airport users, the Terminal building was promptly evacuated due to the smoke that had permeated some areas of the facility,” the FAAN image maker added.

The old terminal, known as International Terminal 1, has recorded many fire incidents, which were usually put off promptly by the FAAN fire fighters, but stakeholders attributed the frequent fire incident to the age of the facility, lack of precautionary measures and obsolete equipment.

This brings to mind the insistence of the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo that the old terminal should be vacated and the new one, built by the Chinese, should be put in full usage with a deadline for relocation put at the end of September.

The Minister had said that the old terminal needed total rehabilitation and it cannot be  in use while such rehabilitation is going on.