All weather forecasting equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) was destroyed in Monday’s fire outbreak that engulfed the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The Federal Government has also reiterated plans to pull down the entire structure following the incident.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection of the burnt terminal in Lagos.
The fire, which broke out around 3:30 p.m., did not claim any lives, but at least six persons sustained serious injuries. No fewer than 12 Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) and other airport users were temporarily trapped and later rescued during the incident.
Keyamo said NiMet’s operational offices and critical weather-reading equipment located on the upper floors of the old terminal building were completely gutted by the fire. He noted, however, that the full extent of the damage had yet to be determined as parts of the structure remained unsafe for detailed assessment.
“Our NiMet equipment and offices where weather readings are carried out are totally gone,” the minister said. “We have other stations that can provide weather readings. Temporary arrangements will be made while we implement the grand plan to replace the damaged equipment.”
He assured airlines and the travelling public that contingency measures had already been activated to prevent any disruption to flight operations. According to him, alternative weather stations within NiMet’s nationwide network would support Lagos operations pending the installation of new equipment.
Keyamo added that the incident would accelerate the evacuation of the old terminal and the commencement of full reconstruction works, which had already been scheduled. The terminal was slated for complete reconstruction within 22 months, beginning in August 2025.
The minister confirmed that although some airport personnel, including ATCs, were briefly trapped during the fire and had to be rescued, no fatalities were recorded. He added that four of the injured victims were in stable condition.
He commended emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, for their swift intervention, which he said prevented the fire from spreading to other critical facilities within the airport.
