FAAN, NAMA Cleared of Blame as Investigation Reveals Lufthansa Was Informed of Abuja Runway Repairs

…Authorities Confirm NOTAM and Multiple Communications Were Issued Prior to Incident

The controversy surrounding Lufthansa Airlines’ decision to offload passengers and luggage from one of its aircraft at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport last week has taken a new turn, as findings confirm that Nigerian aviation authorities had issued prior warnings about a depressed section of the airport’s runway.

Contrary to media reports suggesting Lufthansa’s crew was unaware of the runway condition – an assertion that caused public concern – investigations have revealed that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was duly issued by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) ahead of scheduled repairs.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which manages the nation’s airports, also sent a direct message to all airline operators concerning the temporary closure and remedial works on the affected section.

According to a copy of the notice obtained by our correspondent, FAAN issued the alert on Wednesday, 23rd July, with a clear directive that Runway 04 would be closed from 10:00 pm on 24th July to 4:00 am on 25th July local time to allow for repair works on the depressed pavement.

The message stated: “Good morning, all airline operators. Kindly note that RWY 04 will be closed shortly from 10 pm tonight (24th July) to 4 am tomorrow (25th July) local time to carry out planned repairs on the depressed section of the pavement.

Furthermore, all flight operations during this period are advised to be reviewed accordingly.

Please be aware that operations have been constrained by the weather conditions and are guided by the forecast during this period.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused as we work to restore the runway to normalcy for safe operation.”

Further investigation revealed that FAAN had earlier, on 21st July, circulated the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of the depressed section to operators, providing detailed spatial data to aid pilots and airlines in adapting flight paths or operational plans.

Despite this, Lufthansa allegedly proceeded with a full load of passengers, ultimately having to offload some individuals and cargo to optimise take-off performance – an action that has raised questions in the aviation sector.

Aviation travel consultant, Mr Botunde Dele, dismissed suggestions that Nigerian airport authorities were negligent, pointing instead to potential lapses in Lufthansa’s internal communication or decision-making process.

“Blaming the airport authority in this case is ill-conceived,” he said. “We need to ask a few questions. Why is it the only plane that complained? Because we all know it is not the only aircraft that used the runway during the period. The pilot couldn’t have said they were not informed. A NOTAM goes global – it is not a local memo.”

He added that Lufthansa has yet to issue any formal statement either confirming or disputing the pilot’s alleged claim.

Supporting this position, an engineer from FAAN, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that repair works on the runway were completed promptly and full operations have since resumed without further incident.

“These are issues that happen everywhere,” the engineer said. “The section was depressed, and we took precautionary measures by first informing the airlines and then taking action to ensure that the entire length of the runway was fully functional. That has been done, and the full length is now operational as expected.”

The unfolding details suggest that Nigerian aviation authorities adhered to global standards of notification and safety in managing the Abuja runway situation.

With both international and domestic airlines successfully operating from the same runway during the period, industry experts argue that Lufthansa may have failed to adequately factor in the operational notices provided.

As of the time of filing this report, Lufthansa has neither denied nor clarified the incident through any official communication.