Fire guts Lagos airport, Balogun Market

The affected building at MMIA

Passengers and airport users were thrown into panic on Wednesday as fire engulfed one of the offices at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

It was learnt that the fire occurred at the E-Arrival Wing of the terminal, disrupting flight activities and triggering panic among passengers as they fled the international terminal.

Firefighters and aviation security officials were immediately deployed in the wing where the incident occurred.

Some security officials also assisted in evacuating some passengers from the terminal to avoid stampede.

Findings by our correspondents showed that the fire started in the office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at about 1pm.

It was said no big loss was suffered as a result of the incident.

An airport worker, Mr. Titus Nwoke, said the fire was quickly contained by relevant authorities.

He said, “I just heard people shouting, ‘fire fire’, from my office. When I came out, I found out that people were already running helter-skelter.

“Although I cannot really say what caused the fire, I know it was from an office in the E-wing of the terminal, most likely the NDLEA office.

“Security operatives were very cooperative and calm in evacuating people from the affected area, and the fire was contained in no time.”

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said it was a minor fire.

Later, in a statement, he said, “There was a minor smoke incident at the “E” arrival wing of the International terminal of the MMIA at about 1.13pm today (Wednesday).

“The smoke was quickly traced to some offices at the E wing on the ground floor of the terminal by a combined team of FAAN’s electrical engineers and fire officers.”

He added that Investigations had commenced to ascertain the real cause of the fire.