By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
CONCERNS OVER air travel disruptions at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have surfaced as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced a temporary closure of Runway 18R/36L for rehabilitation.
The closure, set from 03:00hrs on March 3 to 23:59hrs on March 4, 2025, is part of ongoing efforts to maintain airport infrastructure.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, confirmed in a statement on Sunday that the rehabilitation work focuses on the asphalt phase of the A2 Taxiway-link.
She assured passengers that flight operations would continue uninterrupted, with all flights redirected to the shorter Runway 18L/36R during the period.
A separate memo dated February 28 from FAAN’s Head of Operations, J.U. Nwosu, underscored safety concerns linked to construction equipment on the taxiway, posing potential hazards for aircraft.
The memo, addressed to the Airport Manager and the Regional General Manager for the Southwest Region, stressed the need for immediate measures to mitigate operational risks.
While Runway 18L/36R will accommodate both domestic and international flights, industry stakeholders fear delays due to its capacity constraints.
FAAN has instructed technical teams to enhance security, inspect facilities, and implement round-the-clock surveillance to ensure smooth operations during the temporary shutdown.
FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, recently disclosed that N580 billion is required to rehabilitate airport runways nationwide.
She highlighted that several runways have surpassed their lifespan, necessitating urgent reconstruction to uphold safety standards.
This latest closure follows a previous 11-month maintenance shutdown of Runway 18R/36L, which was only reopened two weeks ago.
Also, the frequency of closures has sparked concerns among airline operators and passengers about the long-term sustainability of airport infrastructure.
