February 25, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
Lagos, Nigeria — A devastating fire at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Monday, February 23, 2026, gutted vital air traffic control infrastructure including the air-to-ground communication systems used to guide aircraft into and out of Lagos airspace prompting emergency responses and temporary disruptions to flight operations.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Ahmed Umar, confirmed on Wednesday that the blaze which broke out in the old Terminal 1 building completely destroyed the agency’s primary air-to-ground communication equipment. As a result, controllers were forced to rely on emergency backup systems redeployed from other operational locations to sustain flight services and maintain safety.
Severe Damage to Critical Communication Infrastructure
Air-to-ground communication systems are essential components of modern aviation, facilitating two-way radio contact between aircraft and air traffic controllers during departures, arrivals, and transitions through controlled airspace. Their loss can critically impair normal air traffic operations. Mr. Umar described the destruction as comprehensive, saying the main systems were “completely affected” by the inferno.
Despite the chaos caused by the fire, NAMA engineers responded swiftly, switching operations to backup systems sourced from other locations in the country. This emergency transition helped stabilise air traffic control and allowed aerodrome and approach services to resume later on the day of the incident, even as permanent systems remained offline.
Emergency Response and Safety Measures
The blaze originated from a server room on the first floor of Terminal 1, according to preliminary assessments, and rapidly spread into adjacent facilities, including areas used by aviation bodies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). Weather monitoring equipment and other sensitive systems were destroyed, compounding the damage.
Airspace safety protocols forced a temporary closure of the Lagos airspace during the height of the emergency, with flights diverted to alternative airports and several airlines delaying or rerouting services. Firefighters and emergency crews from federal and state agencies collaborated to contain the blaze and safeguard trapped personnel.
In a dramatic rescue operation, construction equipment was used to extract workers, including air traffic controllers and engineers, who became trapped by smoke and flames in upper levels of the control tower complex.
Restoration and Ongoing Response
Although the main communication infrastructure was rendered inoperable, NAMA officials reported that operations continued using backup systems and that emergency measures were in place to keep aircraft contact and airspace navigation safe. A mobile control tower unit is being prepared to bolster temporary capacity while permanent equipment is repaired or replaced.
Aviation authorities are currently conducting a full damage assessment and preparing plans for the restoration and enhancement of destroyed infrastructure. The fire comes amid federal plans to redevelop older sections of the Lagos airport under a broad modernisation programme, which was already slated to overhaul Terminal 1’s facilities.
Impacts on Travel and Safety
Passengers experienced flight delays, cancellations, and diversions across West Africa and beyond, highlighting Lagos’s role as a major aviation hub. Some operators reported aircraft diverted to cities including Abuja and Accra, with passengers stranded temporarily as airports and airlines activated contingency plans.
While there were no confirmed fatalities directly attributed to the blaze, emergency responders reported several injuries and the evacuation of all trapped workers. Aviation bodies have reassured the flying public that safety remains paramount and that all measures have been taken to minimise operational disruptions.
Looking Ahead
As investigators work to establish the definitive cause of the fire and assess the full scale of damage, authorities from NAMA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and civilian aviation experts have pledged to coordinate reconstruction and improve crisis response systems for future incidents.
The Lagos airport remains open, with phased restoration of services underway — but the fire’s destruction of key communication infrastructure underscores the fragility of aviation systems and the need for resilient backup capacity in major international hubs.