Millions of naira worth of critical weather equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency have been destroyed in the recent fire that gutted parts of Terminal One at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
During an inspection of the charred section of the ageing terminal, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, confirmed that NiMET’s weather-reading office, located on one of the upper floors, was completely wiped out along with several other vital installations.
Despite the heavy losses, he assured that weather services at the airport would continue uninterrupted through support from alternative NiMET stations until the damaged systems were fully replaced.
The minister also disclosed that the incident turned tense at its peak, with some air traffic controllers trapped and later rescued by a crane.
Four people sustained injuries but are reported to be stable, and no lives were lost.
Dismissing early claims of sabotage, Mr. Keyamo cautioned against speculation, stressing that investigations are underway to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the blaze.
He noted that the affected structure was the decades-old terminal already marked for demolition and comprehensive rehabilitation, not the new terminal facility.
According to him, plans had already been in motion to relocate airlines and operators to temporary facilities provided by contractors, and the fire would now fast-track that transition.
While a full financial assessment is still ongoing, he emphasized that flight operations have largely stabilised, with air traffic control services restored using a temporary tower and additional mobile support systems.
Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to transforming Lagos into a modern aviation hub, the minister said the rebuilding process would reposition Nigeria’s busiest gateway to compete with leading transit centres across West Africa and the continent, promising transparency as investigations continue.
The highlight of the tour was a visit to the temporary terminal building soon to be opened as the old terminal is to be pulled down.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen