Lagos Airport Runway 18R/36L to Close for Urgent Repairs: FAAN Announces Temporary Shutdown

In a decisive move prioritizing aviation safety, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the temporary closure of Runway 18R/36L at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The shutdown, scheduled for March 3–4, 2025, follows an extensive 11-month rehabilitation project that was only recently completed. However, FAAN officials stress that additional repairs are necessary to address safety concerns arising from ongoing work at the A2 Taxiway-link of the runway.

Despite the runway’s reopening on February 15, 2025, FAAN has cited potential safety hazards, specifically protruding construction equipment, which pose a serious risk to aircraft operations. In a memo signed by FAAN’s Head of Operations, Mrs. J.U. Nwosu, the agency made it clear that temporarily shutting down the runway is an immediate necessity to prevent accidents.

Given that Runway 18R/36L is the airport’s primary international runway, this disruption will impact both domestic and international flight operations. However, FAAN reassures travelers that Runway 18L/36R—the shorter domestic runway—will remain operational to accommodate flights during the temporary closure.

With the primary runway closed, all flight operations will transition to Runway 18L/36R, which is notably shorter and lacks the same night-time landing capabilities as its counterpart. As a result:

• Flight delays are expected, particularly for larger aircraft requiring more runway length for takeoff and landing.
• Increased congestion may occur due to the sudden shift in air traffic.
• Airlines might adjust their schedules, possibly leading to rescheduling or cancellations.

To mitigate disruptions, FAAN has instructed its technical and operational teams to conduct round-the-clock surveillance, enforce heightened security protocols, and maintain strict facility inspections throughout the shutdown period.

This latest closure underscores the critical need for extensive infrastructure investment in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Runway 18R/36L, which stretches 3,900 meters in length and 60 meters in width, was initially closed in March 2023 for maintenance that was supposed to last eight weeks but instead extended to 11 months. The prolonged closure caused significant disruptions to air travel, highlighting long-standing structural deficiencies in Nigeria’s airport system.

FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, recently revealed that the agency requires ₦580 billion to rehabilitate runways across all 21 airports under its management. Many of these runways, built in the late 1970s, have exceeded their intended lifespan and now demand comprehensive overhauls rather than periodic patchwork repairs.

For airlines operating at MMIA, this development presents logistical challenges that could lead to additional fuel costs, schedule disruptions, and potential financial losses due to delayed or canceled flights. Passengers should anticipate:

• Longer wait times at boarding gates
• Possible last-minute flight rescheduling
• A shift in international departures and arrivals to alternate terminals

Given Lagos' status as West Africa’s busiest air travel hub, these disruptions could ripple through regional flight networks, affecting connecting flights to destinations across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

Despite the short-term inconvenience, FAAN maintains that this measure is essential to ensure long-term safety and operational efficiency at MMIA. The agency has pledged to expedite repair works and minimize passenger discomfort during the closure period.

With growing calls for long-term infrastructure investment, aviation stakeholders argue that FAAN must adopt a more sustainable approach—prioritizing permanent rehabilitation over temporary fixes to prevent recurring closures that disrupt Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The temporary closure of Runway 18R/36L is a stark reminder of the urgent infrastructure needs within Nigeria’s aviation sector. While FAAN’s commitment to safety is commendable, stakeholders insist that a long-term, strategic investment plan is critical to prevent recurring disruptions that hinder airline operations and inconvenience travelers.

For now, passengers and airlines must brace for short-term adjustments as Nigeria’s busiest airport undergoes yet another critical repair operation.