Farouk Ahmed Umar, the managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has disclosed that the fire which ravaged the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 1 on Monday has affected the air to ground communication.

Umar said what the air traffic controllers are currently using is backup equipment.

It will be recalled that a ravaging fire disrupted operations at the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday and triggered diversions, compounding travel delays.

In a press conference on Wednesday at the conference hall, MMIA, the NAMA MD said, “The fire has affected our air to ground communication completely. What we are using to sustain air tactic service now is the backup. We have a lot to do when we are out of the situation.

Read also: Fire guts Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 as passengers flee

“What we have seen is a huge loss as far as communication is concerned. Other air traffic services were really disrupted. So we had no option at that time than to suspend inbound aircraft into Lagos.”

Related News

He commended the prompt response of the NAMA personnel.

“I must commend the prompt response to the emergency situation that we found ourselves. The workers on ground actually put their lives in danger because they were supposed to run and leave the place but they decided to stay and salvage the situation,” Umar said.

He however noted that since flight operations resumed, communication, aerodrome approach and air control has remained uninterrupted.

He assured Nigerians and the flying public that the Nigerian airspace remains safe for flight operations.

He mentioned that what NAMA is trying to do now is to improve on what it has done so far.

“Hopefully by tomorrow or next, we will be able to move the mobile tower but I want to assure Nigerians that the air to ground communication will remain uninterrupted,” Umar added.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date

Open In Whatsapp