The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Umar, has disclosed that critical air-to-ground communication systems were completely destroyed during Monday’s fire outbreak at Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Umar said the destruction of the essential communication equipment forced air traffic controllers to rely entirely on emergency backup systems hastily redeployed from other locations to sustain flight operations at Nigeria’s busiest airport. He made the disclosure on Wednesday while assessing the extent of the damage caused by the blaze, which disrupted operations, led to flight diversions and triggered a large-scale emergency response.
According to him, the fire dealt a significant blow to infrastructure supporting aircraft communication and air navigation services. “The fire has affected our air-to-ground communication completely,” he said, explaining that what remained operational were backup systems moved in to stabilise services in Lagos. He added that it would take time to determine the full magnitude of the losses.
The NAMA chief recounted that the agency’s management team was in a meeting when news of the fire broke, prompting him to immediately dispatch the directors of operations and engineering to the scene. He described what they encountered as a huge loss in terms of communication facilities and confirmed that air traffic services were severely disrupted at the peak of the emergency.
He further revealed that aviation authorities had no option but to temporarily suspend inbound flights into Lagos to guarantee safety while contingency procedures were activated. However, swift coordination among aviation personnel ensured that the situation was stabilised and that flight operations resumed after initial disruptions.
Umar reassured passengers, airlines and international partners that despite the extensive damage, Nigeria’s airspace remains safe. He said the professionalism of NAMA staff and the rapid deployment of backup systems prevented a more serious operational crisis, adding that efforts are ongoing to restore and improve the affected communication infrastructure.
The fire, which engulfed sections of the old terminal currently undergoing renovation, also impacted other aviation installations within the facility. Authorities are expected to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the damage as restoration work begins.
