Members of the National Assembly say they will refrain from commenting on the cause of Monday’s fire outbreak at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport until investigations by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria are concluded.
The position was made known after a joint delegation from the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the damaged Terminal 1 wing of the airport. The visit followed public concern over the inferno, which caused significant structural damage.
The delegation arrived around 3:07 p.m., inspected the affected sections, and later held a closed-door meeting with FAAN’s management team led by Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku. Speaking afterward, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari, commended the swift emergency response and emphasized that no lives were lost.
According to him, the primary objective of the visit was to obtain firsthand information rather than rely on speculation, especially as lawmakers had earlier been engaged in budget defence sessions. He noted that despite the scale of the incident, airport authorities and relevant agencies responded promptly, limiting operational disruption.
Buhari disclosed that some international flights were temporarily diverted to Malabo and Accra, while others, including Emirates and Lufthansa services, later arrived in Lagos the same night. He described the outcome as evidence of preparedness and coordination among aviation stakeholders.
He stressed that the National Assembly would not pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Matters relating to possible sabotage or technical failure, he said, would only be addressed once official findings are released.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, stated that the legislature would rely strictly on FAAN’s report before determining further action. He praised the managing director for restoring operational stability within hours.
Meanwhile, FAAN Board Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje also lauded the airport management’s emergency handling, noting that the rapid intervention prevented casualties and ensured continuity of operations at Nigeria’s busiest international gateway.
