Chaos erupted at the temporary terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday after torrential rainfall led to severe flooding throughout the facility.
The departure hall, boarding gates, airline offices, and other sections of the makeshift terminal were inundated, forcing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to abruptly shut down operations.
Airlines such as Air France-KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and Fly Gabon were immediately relocated to Terminal Two, as passenger processing became impossible at the flooded terminal.
Officials reported that the terminal’s powerhouse was also affected, prompting authorities to cut off electricity for safety reasons. FAAN attributed the flooding to blocked drainage channels, reportedly caused by ongoing reconstruction works at the old international terminal by a Chinese contractor.
The incident comes just months after the old MMIA terminal was closed for a major renovation project estimated at over N600 billion. Only a few months earlier, a fire had broken out at the terminal, causing significant damage.
Sources indicate that the reconstruction has led to repeated disruptions at the airport. Responding to Sunday’s incident, FAAN’s spokesperson, Henry Agbebire, confirmed the flooding and cited the construction work as the root cause. He explained that the ongoing project temporarily impaired the drainage system, leading to the flooding.
It was the construction works that affected the drainage. For operational reasons, we have moved airlines to Terminal 2. Their operations have not been significantly affected there were no cancellations. We have taken immediate steps to ensure the problem does not recur, Agbebire said.
