Kaduna Airport closed after control tower fire

The airport may reopen Monday.

Kaduna airport was closed Sunday after fire ravaged the airport’s control tower, aviation authorities said.

A spokesperson, Yakubu Datti, said the fire was “minor” and had been brought under control. All personnel on duty were safely evacuated, authorities said.

“The Kaduna airport has been temporary closed down following a minor fire incident at the control tower, which has since been brought under control with no casualties,” Mr. Datti said.

A mobile control tower has been ordered deployed from Abuja for the airport to reopen Monday evening.

Our reporter in Kaduna said the fire started at about 3pm and completely damaged the tower.

A staff of the airport said the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, Mr. Datti, who is the general manager, corporate communications for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said.

Meanwhile the managing director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, has directed the immediate deployment of the agency’s mobile tower currently in Abuja to Kaduna airport to resume normal services by sunset, Monday.

The agency said in a statement that NOTAM (Notice To Air Men) had been issued informing operating airlines locally and across the globe of the development.