The Traffic

Lagos Airport Runway Shut Down Again—Just Weeks After Reopening

By Achimi muktar

Barely two weeks after reopening from an 11-month-long maintenance shutdown, the main runway at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is set to close again for urgent repairs.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that Runway 18R/36L will be shut down on March 3 and 4, 2025, to allow for rehabilitation work on the asphalt phase at the A2 Taxiway-link.

In a memo dated February 28, 2025, FAAN’s Head of Operations, Mrs. J.U. Nwosu, emphasized that the closure is necessary due to protruding construction equipment, which could pose a serious risk to landing and departing aircraft.

While the repairs take place, flights will be redirected to the alternative Runway 18L/36R, which is shorter and typically used for domestic flights.

Disruptions Loom for Travelers and Airlines

This sudden closure is likely to cause disruptions similar to last year’s maintenance shutdown, which was initially planned for eight weeks but dragged on for nearly a year, affecting both international and domestic flight schedules.

FAAN has assured that technical teams will be on high alert during the closure, focusing on security, grass management, and 24-hour surveillance to minimize disruptions.

A Troubled Runway with a Long Repair History

Lagos Airport’s Runway 18R/36L is Nigeria’s busiest and stretches 3,900 meters long and 60 meters wide. The runway has been plagued by maintenance issues, causing repeated delays and frustrations for travelers.

Although FAAN has reopened Links 2 and 3 of the taxiway, providing an alternative route for international airlines, travelers are once again bracing for potential delays, diversions, and longer taxi times.