Lagos Airport Scare: FAAN Says Smoke, Not Fire

Flight operations were disrupted on Sunday after a fire scare at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, triggered an emergency response from aviation authorities.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) initially confirmed a fire incident, stating that firefighters from its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to the terminal to contain the situation. The incident caused confusion at the airport, leaving passengers waiting as emergency officials responded.
In its first statement, FAAN said: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that a fire incident has occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation.”
However, the authority later withdrew the statement, clarifying that there was no fire at the airport. FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, explained that the smoke seen inside the terminal resulted from the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
According to Agbebire, “The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated.”
He added that normal operations had resumed at the terminal, while investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident. Agbebire also thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation, reiterating FAAN’s commitment to the safety and security of airport operations.