Fire Incident at MMIA Reveals Safety Gaps, Says NATCA

The Nigerian Air Traffic Control Association (NATCA) reported a fire incident at Murtala Muhammed International Airport that briefly disrupted flight operations. NATCA's president, Edino Amo, confirmed that the incident resulted in the temporary closure of Nigerian airspace as a precautionary safety measure.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) worked to ensure the safe evacuation of personnel from the control tower and coordinated rescue operations from the ninth floor using a crane. Established contingency procedures allowed for the swift relocation of the fire tower's engine and the redeployment of critical communication equipment, enabling flight services to resume within an hour.

NATCA praised Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo for his leadership during the crisis and noted that he flew to Lagos to assess the situation firsthand. The association also commended NAMA's crisis management efforts, which included holding inbound flights and rerouting aircraft to restore operations orderly.