The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has assured the public that there was no fire at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after thick smoke inside one of the terminals triggered panic among passengers and prompted widespread reports of a fire outbreak.
Confusion spread on Sunday after videos circulating on social media appeared to show smoke filling parts of Terminal 2 while firefighters and emergency responders rushed to the scene. The footage quickly fueled speculation that a major fire had broken out at Nigeria’s busiest airport.
FAAN initially announced that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had responded to what it described as a fire incident. The statement heightened public concern, with many travelers fearing disruptions to flight operations and questioning the safety of the facility.
Hours later, however, the authority issued a revised statement explaining that preliminary investigations found no evidence of a fire. Instead, officials said the smoke was caused by the accidental discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system, which is designed to automatically release a fire-extinguishing gas when it detects a possible fire risk.
According to FAAN, emergency personnel followed standard safety procedures by immediately responding to the alarm and securing the affected area. The authority said the response was necessary to protect passengers, airport workers and airport infrastructure while the source of the smoke was being determined.
The agency said there were no injuries and no damage to airport facilities. It added that flight operations and passenger processing resumed normally after emergency teams completed safety checks and confirmed that the terminal was safe for use.
FAAN said it is investigating what caused the fire suppression system to activate unexpectedly. The authority has not yet indicated whether the discharge was triggered by a technical fault, a sensor malfunction or another issue.
The incident drew significant attention online, where videos of the smoke prompted concern among Nigerians and travelers abroad. Aviation observers noted that the rapid spread of unverified reports underscored the importance of official communication during emergency situations, particularly at major transport hubs.
The false alarm also revived memories of previous fire incidents at the airport, making many passengers understandably anxious when the videos first emerged. Although this latest incident did not involve an actual blaze, it highlighted the sensitivity surrounding safety at one of West Africa’s busiest aviation gateways.
FAAN urged members of the public to rely on verified information from official sources and avoid sharing unconfirmed reports during emergencies. The authority said it would provide further updates once its investigation into the unexpected activation of the fire suppression system is complete.
