The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Saturday experienced a temporary power outage at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 1 in Lagos, an incident the agency said was caused by a fault in the terminal’s changeover circuit and underscored aging infrastructure at the facility slated for rehabilitation.

The disruption, which occurred amid passenger traffic at the international terminal, prompted immediate intervention by FAAN’s technical teams to restore electricity and prevent prolonged interruption to airport operations.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the authority confirmed the incident, stating, “We acknowledge the power outage at MMIA Terminal 1 yesterday. The interruption was caused by an issue with the changeover circuit.”

FAAN explained that engineers moved quickly to stabilise supply by switching to alternative sources, noting that teams “took immediate action to bridge the gap and transfer supply to the secondary grid, and interim backup measures were activated to restore services as quickly as possible.”

The agency apologised to travellers and stakeholders affected by the brief outage, saying, “We apologise to all passengers and stakeholders affected by the disruption and any discomfort it caused.”

FAAN added that the incident highlighted “long-standing infrastructure limitations” at Terminal 1, which is scheduled to close in about one month as part of the MMIA Rehabilitation and Expansion Project. According to the authority, the impending shutdown influenced the response options available, stressing that “It is not feasible to install permanent new or additional backup equipment at this time.”

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that he had engaged FAAN following reports of the outage and assured the public that the situation had been resolved.

The incident comes as the Federal Government advances plans to modernise the aging terminal.

In August 2025, the government approved a comprehensive overhaul of MMIA Terminal 1, describing the facility as “a national disgrace to the country and its citizens.” The approval was granted at a Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, with the council endorsing a N712 billion renovation project.

Keyamo had explained that the works would span 22 months and include a complete reconstruction and remodelling of Terminal 1, repairs to access roads and bridges, and upgrades across other airport facilities.

Industry sources familiar with the project say the scope goes beyond the terminal building, covering the expansion of Terminal 2, enhanced security architecture, upgraded airfield lighting, and refurbishment of apron areas. Originally commissioned in 1979,

Terminal 1 is expected to be stripped to its structural core and rebuilt with modern mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Additional components of the project include the construction of a new apron, expanded access roads and bridges to increase capacity, and a N49.9 billion perimeter fencing initiative equipped with intrusion detection systems, CCTV cameras, solar-powered floodlights, and a dedicated patrol road.

With Terminal 1 nearing shutdown, Saturday’s outage has renewed attention on the urgency of the planned overhaul, as authorities race to transition from temporary fixes to long-term infrastructure renewal at Nigeria’s busiest international gateway.