ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire outbreak at Terminal 2 of the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

This is contrary to initial concerns that prompted an emergency response by the agency yesterday.

An initial post on the social media handle of FAAN had alleged that there was a fire incident at the Lagos airport.

The post had stated: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that a fire incident has occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation. There have been no reported casualties or loss of life,” the authority said.

But a statement yesterday by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Henry Agbebire, debunked the earlier post by the agency.

According to Agbebire, the smoke within the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.

The statement emphasised that investigations were ongoing to determine what triggered the automatic activation.

FAAN said normal flight operations had resumed at the terminal following the incident.

The statement read in part: “Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated.

“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.”

FAAN, therefore, assured passengers, airlines and other airport users that safety remained its top priority, stressing that a comprehensive investigation had commenced to establish the exact cause of the incident.

The agency also said that the temporary congestion experienced at the terminal’s entry screening points was a direct consequence of the precautionary evacuation carried out after the smoke was detected.

According to FAAN, all passengers were safely evacuated from the terminal before being allowed back into the facility after emergency responders declared the area safe.

It said the re-entry process required every passenger and their baggage to undergo fresh security screening, resulting in longer processing times and queues at the terminal.

However, FAAN confirmed that the backlog had been cleared, with passenger movement and access points returning to normal.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications market has recovered to its strongest level in more than two years, with total active subscriptions across the country’s four major operators rising to 189.4 million in May, latest industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission has shown.

The May figure represents the highest subscriber level recorded since April 2024, when the combined mobile database stood at 216.6 million, following a period of significant declines triggered by regulatory efforts to clean up inactive and improperly registered SIM cards.

The recovery was driven largely by growth recorded by the country’s leading operators, with MTN Nigeria maintaining its dominance of the market. The largest network operator in Nigeria closed May with 96.9 million active subscriptions, accounting for 51.19 per cent of the total mobile market.

Airtel Nigeria, the second-largest operator, recorded 65.4 million active subscriptions during the period, representing 34.55 per cent market share.

Globacom, Nigeria’s third-largest telecom operator, had 23.4 million active subscriptions, equivalent to 12.39 per cent of the market, while T2, formerly known as 9mobile, remained the smallest operator with 3.5 million subscriptions.

The latest data highlights the gradual recovery of Nigeria’s telecom sector after a challenging period marked by subscriber losses arising from SIM registration compliance exercises and restrictions on unverified lines.

Despite the overall industry recovery, competition among operators remains uneven, with MTN continuing to widen its lead over rivals.

T2, which rebranded from 9mobile about a year ago as part of efforts to reposition the business, has struggled to significantly expand its customer base. The operator has remained within the three million subscription range since September 2025.

The company, which once had more than 22 million subscribers, has faced persistent challenges, including network investment pressures and customer retention issues, despite an infrastructure-sharing agreement signed with MTN in July 2025.

The recovery in subscriber numbers comes as telecom operators continue to invest in network expansion, data infrastructure, and digital services to meet rising demand for connectivity.

With mobile subscriptions serving as a key indicator of Nigeria’s digital economy growth, industry analysts say sustained growth will depend on operators’ ability to improve service quality, expand coverage, and manage rising operational costs.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Cooking gas prices have reduced in Abuja and nearby cities over the past three weeks, with some outlets selling LPG for as low as ₦1,300 per kilogramme.

Checks showed Ranoil, Shafa and AP Ardova now sell LPG at ₦1,350, ₦1,300 and ₦1,400 per kilogramme, down from ₦1,450 to ₦1,500.

NMDPRA data showed LPG imports jumped 1,400 per cent to 1.5 kilotonnes per day in June 2026, matching the drop to ₦997-₦1,030 at depots.

The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has continued to decline in parts of Nigeria over the past three weeks.

A recent market survey by journalists showed that the price of a kilogramme of cooking gas had dropped to as low as ₦1,300 in Abuja and its environs, depending on the location.

The latest price represents a reduction from the ₦1,450 previously recorded in some areas.

Checks at some filling stations in Abuja showed that Ranoil, Shafa and AP Ardova now sell LPG at ₦1,350, ₦1,300 and ₦1,400 per kilogramme, respectively.

The prices are lower than the ₦1,450 to ₦1,500 per kilogramme previously recorded at the outlets.

The decline has also been recorded at the depot level, with depot owners now selling LPG for between ₦997 and ₦1,030 per kilogramme.

This is a reduction from prices that had risen to as high as ₦1,100 per kilogramme.

Cooking gas retailers in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory have also reduced their prices.

Most retailers in Dawaki, Kubwa, Gwarimpa and Lugbe now sell LPG at about ₦1,500 per kilogramme.

The price is down from around ₦1,700 per kilogramme previously recorded in the areas.

The reduction in the price of cooking gas comes amid a significant increase in LPG imports into the country.

Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that LPG imports increased significantly in June 2026.

According to the data, LPG imports rose by 1,400 per cent to 1.5 kilotonnes per day in June.

The increase in supply has coincided with the recent decline in cooking gas prices recorded across parts of the country.