Operations were disrupted at the temporary terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Sunday after heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding across the facility
Floodwaters inundated the departure hall, boarding gates, airline temporary offices, and other parts of the terminal, forcing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to temporarily shut down the facility as airlines were unable to process passengers.
Airlines operating from the terminal, including Air France-KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and Fly Gabon, were subsequently relocated. The terminal’s powerhouse was also affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to switch off electricity for safety reasons.
Following the incident, all affected airlines were moved to Terminal Two of the airport. FAAN officials blamed the flooding on blocked drainage channels, which they alleged resulted from ongoing reconstruction work being carried out by a Chinese contractor at the old international terminal.
The incident comes months after FAAN closed the old MMIA terminal for a reconstruction project valued at over ₦600 billion. The facility had also experienced a fire outbreak earlier this year, which damaged parts of the building.
Airport sources said the reconstruction work has caused a series of operational challenges at the airport.
Confirming the incident, FAAN spokesperson Henry Agbebire said the flooding was linked to the ongoing construction, which temporarily disrupted the airport’s drainage system.
“It was the construction works that affected the drainage. And for operational reasons, we have moved airlines operating from that terminal to Terminal 2, and the development has not really affected their operations.
“There were no cancellations at all. We have taken immediate action to fix that problem to the extent that it doesn’t happen again. You can rest assured of that.”
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