The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) said the recent fire outbreak at the Old International Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos has shown the Federal Airport Authority’s (FAAN)capacity to respond to emergency situations.
This was contained in a statement signed by NAAPE’s Public Relations Officer, Engr. Blessing Ahmadu on Tuesday in Abuja.
The professional body for pilots and licensed aircraft maintenance engineers said the response by the FAAN reflected a preparedness structure that was activated with discipline rather than improvised under pressure.
NAAPE noted that the incident, which temporarily disrupted flight schedules and led to aircraft diversions, tested the resilience of Nigeria’s busiest international gateway.
However, it said the swift activation of the Emergency Operations Centre, coordinated evacuation procedures and structured engagement with airline operators demonstrated institutional capacity.
NAAPE President, Bunmi Gindeh, said the absence of fatalities and the orderly restoration of operations were indicators of effective crisis governance.
He particularly acknowledged the leadership of FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, stating that steady oversight and clear command structures were evident throughout the emergency.
According to NAAPE, aviation safety depends on the alignment of infrastructure integrity, emergency readiness, air traffic coordination and trained personnel, adding that the MMIA incident demonstrated how these components function when promptly deployed.
While praising the handling of the situation, the association called for sustained investments in airport infrastructure modernisation, advanced fire detection and suppression systems, redundancy frameworks and routine emergency simulation exercises across the country’s airports.
NAAPE reaffirmed its commitment to working with FAAN and other stakeholders to strengthen operational safety and resilience within Nigeria’s aviation sector, expressing confidence that post-incident reviews would further enhance safeguards at MMIA and beyond.
