FAAN breaks silence on Akure airport shutdown

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially addressed the closure of Akure Airport, four days after the incident.

FAAN confirmed that the airport was shut down due to extensive damage caused by a torrential downpour on Monday.

The heavy rainfall reportedly affected vital equipment, terminal buildings, staff quarters, and other key infrastructure within the airport.

Passengers who had booked flights to the airport from Lagos had been turned back and refunded.

READ ALSO: FAAN announces closure of Lagos airport runway

Sources working at the airport said equipment such as network time protocol, encoder, Air conditioners, and computers, among others, were destroyed at the control tower and engineering unit.

One of the passengers who was turned back by one of the airlines, Adetutu Muriano, expressed her disappointment, appealing to FAAN to always communicate whenever needed.

She said she had an exam scheduled (today), Wednesday, but her plan to travel by air was aborted on Tuesday, leaving her with no other option than to travel with a night bus.

“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.

Another passenger with Ovaland Airline, Babatunde Akinteye, said the airline cancelled over technical glitches at the airport.

The airline’s message conveying the flight cancellation to Akinyeye reads, “ Dear Sir/Ma, your Overland Airways Akure – Abuja flight of March 5, 2025, will not be operating as the Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, Akure Airport has been closed to all flight operations for three months effective today, March 4, 2025, by the FAAN due to a Technical Issue. We apologize for any inconvenience, and please be assured of our best attention at all times.”

Repeated efforts to speak with the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, were unsuccessful.

On Wednesday, she told our correspondent that she had asked one of her subordinates to write her response, promising to get back shortly, but never did till press time.

In a statement on Thursday on its social media pages, FAAN apologised to passengers for any discomfort the development might have caused.

The statement reads, “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.”