The federal government has accelerated plans to reposition the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as a leading African aviation hub, following last week’s fire incident at the old terminal.
Flight operations have since resumed, with authorities confirming that the temporary disruption did not affect Nigeria’s airspace operations. The incident, according to government officials, has further reinforced the urgency of the ongoing reconstruction of the ageing facility.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while on a tour of the facility on Tuesday, disclosed that flight activities resumed approximately one hour after the outbreak, with contingency measures swiftly activated to sustain operations.
“We have made temporary arrangements for air traffic control. For now, they are using a temporary tower, and mobile towers are coming in to ensure normal flight activities”, the Minister said.
He assured airlines, passengers, and the international community that aviation services remain stable and uninterrupted.
“I want to assure the public that flight activities will not be disrupted in any way at all”, he stated.
Providing updates on those affected, Keyamo confirmed that four individuals are currently stable and receiving medical care.
Beyond the immediate response, the Minister framed the incident within the broader context of infrastructure renewal at Nigeria’s busiest international gateway. He noted that the affected structure was an ageing terminal already slated for demolition and full-scale reconstruction due to years of overuse and outdated facilities.
“This is like a 50-year-old building that was abandoned. Infrastructure collapsed. Traffic overpowered the capacity of the building over time”, he said.
Highlighting MMIA’s strategic importance, Keyamo revealed that approximately 67 per cent of international travellers into Nigeria pass through the Lagos airport, underscoring its central role in the country’s economic and global connectivity.
“There is no reason this place should not reflect how healthy Nigeria is”, he added.
Although equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) was significantly damaged, the Minister assured that alternative weather monitoring stations have been activated to maintain seamless flight operations while long-term replacements are arranged.
Looking ahead, Keyamo reiterated the federal government’s ambition to transform MMIA into a competitive transit hub capable of rivaling major West African and continental airports. The upgraded airport, he explained, is being designed to facilitate smoother passenger transit, including connections that would allow travellers to pass through Lagos en route to other destinations without unnecessary entry bottlenecks.
“We want to challenge other West African hubs and even African hubs. This place is going to be a proper hub”, he declared.
He expressed confidence that the reconstruction initiative, driven by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would ultimately reposition Nigeria as a dominant aviation gateway in Africa.
“And Nigerians will be very proud of what the President has done at the end of this”, Keyamo said.