Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered the leadership of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other key aviation agencies to assemble at the airport by 9:00 am for a comprehensive inspection of Terminal 1 following Monday’s fire outbreak.
The directive comes in the wake of the blaze that swept through the terminal, forcing the diversion of three international flights operated by British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates.
Although authorities later reopened the airspace, with an Ethiopian Airlines flight departing at 7:26 pm as the first movement after the disruption, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, disclosed that the minister immediately travelled from Abuja to Lagos due to the gravity of the incident.
In a statement issued shortly before midnight, Agbebire said Keyamo arrived at the airport around 11:50 pm and met with FAAN’s Managing Director and the agency’s management team, who were still overseeing emergency operations to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.
He stated, “While on ground, the Minister commended FAAN personnel and first responders for their swift activation of established emergency procedures, noting that their prompt and coordinated actions were instrumental in safeguarding lives and limiting the impact of the incident.
“He further directed FAAN management and relevant aviation agencies to reconvene at the airport by 9:00 am on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, for a joint inspection and thorough evaluation of Terminal 1 to guide recovery efforts and ensure operational and safety standards are maintained.”
