Passengers board flights using lanterns at Lagos airport due to power cut during check-in

OPERATIONS at Nigeria's Murtala Mohammed International Airport hit a new low last night as darkness enveloped the facility due to a power cut at the time passengers were boarding flights to different foreign destinations.

 

Due to grossly inadequate capacity, Nigeria suffers from regular chromic power cuts and most public facilities tend to have private generators to enable them function. However, a scarcity of diesel sometimes leads to difficulties as many public offices at times find it hard to fuel their generators.

 

Yesterday, the airport, by far Nigeria's busiest, suffered a major power cut between 10pm and midnight, when about four international flights were boarding. Among the airlines whose flights were taking off at the time of the power cut included British Airways, Air France and South African Airways but there were no reports of any mishap or hiccup.

 

During the embarrassing development, the airport's departure lounge was pitch dark as airline officials deployed gas-powered lanterns and battery-powered flashlights to check-in passengers and walk them through the boarding gates. Passengers then groped their way through the boarding gates into the aircraft.

 

One passenger said: "The place was full of heat and people were sweating. It was a disaster and our international airport has reached a new low."

 

During embarkation, the passengers discussed the security implications of conducting check-in and boarding processes in darkness in a country currently battling terrorism and at a time when aviation security should be a high priority. The cause of last night’s power outage at the airport could not be ascertained at the time of going to press.