By Joke Kujenya
SMOKE billowed from the E54 Bridge at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal One early this morning, prompting swift action from electrical engineers who cut off power to the airport’s E Wing.
The incident caused disruption to operations and raising concerns about safety at one of Nigeria’s best airports.
The smoke was first detected emanating from the E54 Bridge, triggering immediate response that made the engineers to swiftly cut off power to prevent further escalation of the situation.
Mrs Obiageli Orah, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airport Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), issued a statement regarding the incident, stating that the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS), team promptly responded to the emergency, arriving at the scene by 5.30am. However, the fire had already gained momentum by then.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by sparks originating from an electrical unit within the E54 Bridge.
Nevertheless, a thorough investigation is currently underway to ascertain the precise cause of the blaze.
Despite the efforts of the ARFFS team, it took until 6.40 am to bring the fire under control.
In the aftermath, extensive measures have been taken to ventilate the smoke from the affected area.
As a result of the incident, all flight operations within Terminal One of the MMIA have been diverted to the D Wing. This redirection of the flights aims to minimize disruptions and ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel.
FAAN has also assured the public that they are taking the matter seriously and are committed to conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident and pledge that more details should be expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
