 has explained that the shutdown of the Akure airport was due to damages caused by a torrential downpour.){kind=link}
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has finally broken its silence on the shutdown of the Akure airport, explaining that the decision was made due to damages caused by a torrential downpour. The airport was shut down on Monday, leaving many passengers stranded.
The rain, which occurred on Monday, left different levels of damage on vital equipment and terminal buildings, staff quarters, and other strategic sections at the airport. Equipment such as network time protocol, encoder, air conditioners, and computers were destroyed at the control tower and engineering unit. The damage was so severe that FAAN had to shut down the airport to prevent any further accidents.
Passengers who had booked flights to the airport from Lagos were turned back and refunded. One of the passengers, Adetutu Muriano, expressed her disappointment, appealing to FAAN to always communicate whenever needed.
“I have an examination today, and I booked my flight for yesterday only for me to get their text yesterday evening that they won’t be flying. Can you just imagine that I had booked the same flight for early this morning? What would have happened? Is FAAN no longer functional? Why are they mute about the situation at the airport? May God help us all,” Ms. Muriano lamented.
In a statement on its social media pages, FAAN apologized to passengers for any discomfort the development might have caused. The statement explained that a team of engineers had been deployed to assess the level of damages and provide remedial solutions.
“The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria wishes to notify the public that following damages caused by a rainstorm which affected the terminal building and control tower at the Ondo International Airport last Monday, March 3rd, 2025, a team of engineers have been deployed to assess the level of damages and provide remedial solutions.
FAAN regrets inconveniences caused by the natural occurrence and is working assiduously to ensure that normal flight operations are restored. FAAN promises to remain customer-driven while providing quality services.”
The shutdown of the Akure airport highlights the need for adequate infrastructure and maintenance at Nigerian airports. FAAN’s prompt response to the situation is commendable, and efforts should be made to ensure that normal flight operations are restored as soon as possible.