The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that no fire broke out at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, bringing clarity to an incident that caused concern among passengers and airport users on Sunday.
The agency said the smoke seen inside the terminal was not caused by a fire but by the unexpected discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. It added that investigations are underway to determine what triggered the activation of the system.
The clarification came after emergency responders were deployed to the terminal following reports of smoke inside parts of the facility. The situation initially sparked fears of a possible fire, prompting FAAN to activate its emergency response protocols as a precaution.
According to the Authority, preliminary findings have now established that there was no fire anywhere within Terminal 2.
FAAN explained that the smoke observed inside the building resulted solely from the discharge of the FM-200 fire suppression system, a clean-agent firefighting technology commonly installed in airports and other sensitive facilities to quickly suppress fires without damaging electronic equipment.
The Authority noted that although the emergency response was immediate, it was carried out in line with international aviation safety procedures, which require every report of smoke within an airport terminal to be treated as a potential fire until investigations prove otherwise.
Its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) responded promptly after the alert, securing the affected area while ensuring the safety of passengers, airline personnel, airport workers and other users of the terminal.
FAAN said emergency officials carried out thorough inspections before confirming that there had been no fire outbreak.
The agency also confirmed that no casualties or injuries were recorded during the incident.
Passengers and airport workers were safely managed throughout the response, while emergency teams conducted comprehensive checks before reopening the affected areas.
Following the safety assessment, normal airport activities resumed without delay.
Passenger processing continued, airlines operated scheduled flights and terminal operations returned to normal after officials confirmed the facility was safe for use.
FAAN said investigations are continuing to determine why the FM-200 fire suppression system discharged unexpectedly.
The Authority stated that the outcome of the investigation will help establish whether the activation resulted from a technical fault, equipment malfunction or another operational issue.
It reassured passengers that the incident never posed the kind of fire emergency initially feared and that all necessary safety measures were followed from the moment the alert was received.
FAAN thanked passengers, airlines, concessionaires and other airport stakeholders for their patience and cooperation during the temporary disruption.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards across Nigeria’s airports, stressing that every emergency alert is treated seriously to protect lives and airport infrastructure.
It also emphasised that the rapid deployment of emergency responders demonstrated the effectiveness of existing airport safety procedures, ensuring that every potential threat is investigated immediately.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport remains Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub, handling thousands of domestic and international passengers daily. As a major gateway into the country, the airport maintains strict emergency response systems designed to safeguard passengers and ensure uninterrupted flight operations.
The incident briefly raised concerns after smoke was noticed inside Terminal 2, but FAAN has now confirmed that there was no fire. Instead, the smoke originated from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system, with investigations ongoing to determine what caused its activation.
With operations fully restored, the Authority has assured the travelling public that the airport remains safe and that flights are continuing as scheduled while investigators work to establish the exact cause of the incident.