Chaos Looms As Authorities Announce Sudden Closure Of Lagos Airport Runway 

Chaos Looms As Authorities Announce Sudden Closure Of Lagos Airport Runway 

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the planned closure of the 3.9km Runway 18R/36L at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for essential rehabilitation work……..READ MORE 

According to Ireporter, the closure is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, coming just two weeks after the runway was reopened following an extensive maintenance period that lasted nearly 11 months.

The information was conveyed in a memo dated February 28, 2025, from FAAN’s Head of Operations, Mrs. J.U. Nwosu, addressed to the Airport Manager (AM)/Regional General Manager (RGM) for the Southwest Region, under the subject: “Total Closure of Runway 18R/36L.”

The memo states:
“This is to bring to your notice the closure of Runway 18R/36L due to rehabilitation work (asphalt phase) at the A2 Taxiway-link of the runway. The closure is necessary due to the presence of protruding construction equipment, which may pose a potential hazard to landing and departing aircraft.”

FAAN has assured that during the closure, the alternative Runway 18L/36R will remain operational.

Additionally, all technical departments affected by the closure have been urged to conduct thorough inspections of their facilities and implement necessary measures such as grass management, enhanced security, and round-the-clock surveillance.

“All necessary measures associated with a total runway closure will be applied, making adequate facility protection essential,” the statement added.

It is worth noting that in March 2023, FAAN temporarily closed the same runway for maintenance, originally planning for an eight-week repair period. However, the repairs took much longer than expected, causing disruptions to air traffic and airline operations.

During that time, both international and domestic airlines relied on the shorter Runway 18L/36R, which is primarily intended for domestic flights.

With the recent reopening of Links 2 and 3 of the taxiway, international airlines now have an alternative route in addition to Runway 18L/36R.