Lagos: Airport fire outbreak destroyed all our air-to-ground equipment -Umar, NAMA MD

‎By Chinelo Obogo

‎‎The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has revealed that the fire outbreak which burnt some parts of the old terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Monday destroyed the air-to-ground equipment of the agency.

‎Umar who was at the airport in Lagos on Wednesday to carry out an assessment of the damage caused by the fire, said what air traffic controllers are currently using is backup equipment which had to be deployed to ensure operations are not disrupted.

‎ He 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.

‎”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.”

‎ He then commended the prompt response of the NAMA personnel, saying, “I must commend the prompt response to the emergency situation that we found ourselves. The workers on the 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.”

‎He said that flight operations resumed, communication, aerodrome approach and air control has remained uninterrupted. He then assured Nigerians and the flying public that the Nigerian airspace remains safe for flight operations. ‎”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 said.

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