The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the immediate closure of Runway 18R/36L at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for urgent rehabilitation work. This decision comes just two weeks after the runway was reopened following an almost 11-month maintenance shutdown.
The closure, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, is necessary due to rehabilitation work on the asphalt phase at the A2 Taxiway-link of the runway. FAAN stated that the presence of protruding construction equipment poses a potential hazard to landing and departing aircraft, necessitating the runway's temporary closure.
During this period, the alternative runway 18L/36R will be in active use to accommodate flight operations. FAAN has advised all technical departments to conduct constant inspections to ensure facility safety, including grass management and enhanced security measures.
In March 2023, FAAN temporarily closed runway 18R/36L for maintenance, initially scheduled to last eight weeks. However, the repairs extended beyond the expected timeframe, disrupting air traffic and airline schedules. During that period, both international and domestic airlines operated on runway 18L/36R, a shorter runway primarily designated for domestic flights.
The reopened runway 18R/36L spans 3,900 meters (12,794 feet) in length and 60 meters (197 feet) in width.
FAAN has assured stakeholders that all necessary measures associated with the total runway closure will be applied to ensure safety and efficiency during the rehabilitation period.