The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday inspected the level of destruction caused by Monday’s ravaging fire at the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Speaking with journalists at the scene, the minister confirmed that the fire had been contained and no lives were lost in the incident.
He added that victims who were hospitalised are responding to treatment at a health facility in Lagos.
According to Keyamo, the affected terminal, which had already been slated for refurbishment, will now be pulled down entirely.
He disclosed that a temporary terminal, from where the few airlines operating from the facility will continue operations, has reached an advanced stage of completion.
The fire outbreak, which occurred on Monday, disrupted operations at the airport’s Terminal 1, triggering flight diversions and compounding travel delays for passengers.
It was gathered that at least six persons were hospitalised after the fire engulfed sections of the terminal, damaging airport equipment and prompting a massive multi-agency emergency response.
The incident reportedly began around 3:00 p.m., with firefighters battling thick smoke billowing from parts of the terminal. As of 7:00 p.m., emergency responders were still working to fully extinguish the blaze.
Airport authorities are expected to provide further updates on the extent of the damage and the timeline for full restoration of operations.
