International travelers departing from Nigeria found themselves in a state of confusion and frustration on Wednesday and Thursday as baggage belt malfunctions at the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos led to flight delays and cancellations.
The travel chaos persisted as officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and foreign airlines worked tirelessly to address congestion and baggage handling issues at the new terminal.
The commotion stemmed from the sudden relocation of foreign airlines from the international terminal of Lagos airport to an adjacent new terminal, which had remained underutilized since its opening in March. The relocation, initiated by FAAN, occurred on the same day a fire incident affected part of the baggage hall at the MMIA, necessitating the evacuation of passengers and staff.
After a brief evacuation on Wednesday afternoon, passengers and airport workers were asked to return to the terminal. However, at around 8 pm, FAAN officials ordered airlines to relocate to the new terminal. Airlines reportedly initially disregarded the order, prompting FAAN to shut off the check-in system. Subsequently, airlines began the relocation process at approximately 9 pm.
However, the new terminal experienced congestion, frequent baggage belt failures, logistical challenges, and other issues, leading to pandemonium among passengers.
The resulting chaos resulted in delays of over four hours for international airlines, causing many passengers to miss their connecting flights. Airlines such as British Airways, Air France, KLM, and Qatar Airways, which were originally scheduled to depart from Lagos between 10 pm and 11 pm on Wednesday, ended up departing around 4 am on Thursday.
Passengers and airline personnel interviewed described the experience as “hellish.”
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EgyptAir also encountered approximately four hours of delay. Kenya Airways was compelled to cancel its flights after the crew exceeded their rest period, and the stranded passengers were subsequently accommodated in a Lagos hotel.
In response to the situation, the Director of Media at FAAN, Mr. Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, cited the airport fire incident and other power-related issues as reasons for the abrupt relocation of foreign carriers. He assured that FAAN was actively addressing the situation, stating, “We are doing our best to make it better. Issues like this will come with some challenges and hitches. Things are now as good as they should be, and we hope it will be better. The MD and directors were there up until this evening.”
However, a high-ranking official from a European carrier called for a holistic approach to addressing the matter, emphasizing that the baggage belts at the new terminal failed to function properly, leading to a cascade of problems for the airlines and passengers alike.
She highlighted space constraints at the new terminal, questioning the decision to move airlines there when it lacked the capacity to accommodate the influx of passengers. The official also expressed confusion regarding the early move, despite an initial deadline of October 1, set by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
FAAN issued a statement explaining the sudden relocation on Thursday, attributing it to the unfortunate fire incident and the minister’s directive to enhance passenger experience and overhaul Terminal 1 by October 1, 2023. The statement encouraged travelers to arrive at the airport early to complete check-in procedures on time to avoid flight delays.
