The lawmakers’ position came after a joint delegation from the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation inspected the damaged Terminal 1 wing of the airport. The visit followed public concern over the fire, which destroyed parts of the facility
Members of the National Assembly have said they will refrain from commenting on the cause of Monday’s fire at Murtala Muhammed International Airport until investigations by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are concluded.
The lawmakers’ position came after a joint delegation from the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation inspected the damaged Terminal 1 wing of the airport. The visit followed public concern over the fire, which destroyed parts of the facility.
The delegation arrived around 3:07 p.m., carried out a detailed assessment, and later held a closed-door meeting with FAAN’s management team led by Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari, commended FAAN for its swift response and confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident.
He said the visit aimed to obtain firsthand information rather than rely on speculation, noting that lawmakers had been engaged in budget defence sessions prior to the fire.
“We thank God that there was no loss of life, which is the most important thing. Despite the scale of the incident, FAAN and other agencies rose to the occasion,” Buhari said.
He added that emergency protocols were immediately activated, allowing flight operations to continue with minimal disruption.
“Flights were diverted appropriately. Some landed in Malabo and Accra, while others, including Emirates and Lufthansa, still arrived in Lagos later that night. This shows the level of preparedness and response,” he said.
Buhari stressed that the National Assembly would not pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
“The investigation is still in progress, and we do not want to draw conclusions. Issues such as sabotage or otherwise will only be addressed after the relevant authorities complete their work,” he added.
Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, echoed Buhari’s stance, saying the legislature would await official findings before taking further action. “The investigation is ongoing, and we will wait for the same before anything can be done on this development. For the MD, she has done very well because within just three hours she was able to achieve stability; that is a very good one,” he stated.
Meanwhile, FAAN Board Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje praised airport management for its prompt and effective emergency response, which prevented casualties and ensured continuity of operations at the country’s busiest airport.
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