Blackout at the presidential wing of the Lagos airport

There was complete power failure at the presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos on Thursday.

A source at the operations department of the Presidential wing, also called the VIP lounge, which hosts both national and international dignitaries arriving or leaving the country, told NEXT that electrical power at the wing was interrupted at about 11.30pm on Wednesday, and the generating plant in use also suddenly went off.

One of the technicians in charge of the electricity supply at the wing said that irregular supply of diesel and technical issues led to the power failure at the lounge.

"Since the government announced that Nigerians should expect an increase in the pump price of petrol and diesel we have been having problems with our suppliers," said the operations personnel who spoke on conditions of anonymity. He also stated that the current deregulation of the downstream oil sector may have contributed to the blackout.

"The marketers are no longer willing to supply in large quantities for they say they are scared of running at a loss when the new price will be announced," he said.

Admitting that the operations department of the wing is faced with technical problems, the lounge's operations personnel disclosed that his team was working hard to see that the lights at the presidential lounge returned by yesterday.

The source however blamed Power Holding Company of Nigeria, stressing that it is the primary duty of the company to supply uninterrupted power to the lounge.

"People should also know that our duty in the supply of electricity to this wing is secondary, the primary suppliers of power to the place and the SkyPower Catering premises (neighbouring building) is the PHCN," the source said. "I think it is time they live up to expectation; what if we were to have an international guest, of course Nigerians will say that both we have failed."

The blackout, which lasted for over 24 hours continued as the time this report was filed.

Airport authority reacts

Commenting on the development, Ola Oguntolapo, head of department, public affairs Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) disclosed that the airport's authority directed the concerned personnel to get diesel for the electrical plant.

"When we heard about it, we directed our men in charge of the lounge to get diesel for the generator and we hope to have power there before the end of the day," he said.

According to sources and staff at the nation's premier international airport, recurrent power failure has become a characteristic of the airport, which has led to numerous complains from airport users and travellers.

"If you like, call it international airport, the truth is that power failure in this airport is not a new thing to people here," said an aviation staff at the international airport. "The people that feel it most are passengers and some business centres here." He said.

Perpetual darkness

Passengers at the airport also reacted to the incessant power failures, water outage and non functional facilities at the airport.

Anozie Chikezie, a traveller at the international airport disclosed that it is shameful that passengers and foreigners have to go through power failure and other difficulties at the Nigeria's airport.

"I am not surprised at the continuous blackout at this airport, because it is something which Nigerians are acquainted with," he said. "But the most annoying and disgracing thing is to have your guest welcomed with power failure after coming out from an international airport toilet without toiletries and running water."