Tragedy was averted during last week’s Easter celebrations when the news filtered into the country’s aviation sector of how a mysterious fire erupted at the equipment room of the new terminal of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
The fire incident in Abuja airport, according to the spokesperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, which was described “as a minor issue was, however curtailed by the in-built fire detection and protection system at the new terminal that triggered automatically.”
“The system comes up when it detects high ambient temperatures and sprays fire extinguishing agent. The residue of powder sprayed by the system was seen in the cloud, there was no fire at all.”
The fire incident at the Abuja airport came barely two weeks after a similar incident happened at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo airport in Owerri, Imo State which caused substantial damage to a section of the terminal building.
Thank God for the quick and prompt intervention of the fire service unit of the FAAN that save the situation, but for the two incidents to have happened within the spate of two weeks showed there must be something wrong somewhere.
For the fire incidents to have occurred at the two terminal buildings newly constructed at whopping cost raises suspicion hence, should be viewed seriously.
Though there has been no story of suspicion in the two incidents, but amongst questions calling for answers is why the incidents did not happen at airports with old terminals.
It is good that FAAN, the manager of the airports has not come out to raise suspicion or suspect any foul play, but this should not stop them from being vigilant or alert.
The need to be alert becomes pertinent in other to prevent the same incident repeating itself in another airport terminal building.
Things should not be taken for granted because what if such incident had happened at night or when most critical personnel like fire fighters had left the airport?, what would have been the story?
Without much ado, for two fire incidents to have been recorded at two airport terminals suggested abnormality which requires an urgent action and investigation to be carried out on the materials used in building the terminals.
Besides, there is also the need for the FAAN management to look at the electricity supply and connection at the terminals as any wrong connection or similar mistakes connected to electricity may endanger such terminals and even the airports.
Equally, FAAN needs to beam searchlight on all airport users including those in the government agencies, airlines and other relevant companies or individuals doing businesses to ensure they don’t engage in activities that can lead to fire.
At this juncture, there is the need for the airport management to review the two fire incidents and tighten all loopholes that can attract fire or dangers to the airports and the users.
In all honesty, for two airport terminals to have suffered fire incidents within two weeks is obviously not in the interest of any country or its aviation sector.
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