Lomé airport operator confirms overflow in boarding area

SALT, which runs Lomé's Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, confirmed a plumbing fault disrupted its boarding area for a time on 30 September. The operator said an overflow from a trap in the pipework began at 12:50 local time. Maintenance staff and cleaners were sent straight away to stop the spill and restore the area.

The statement followed social media posts by Ferdinand Ayité, a Togolese investigative journalist living abroad, who said a toilet pipe had burst and waste had landed on passengers waiting to board. His posts drew wide attention and criticism online.

SALT did not confirm passengers were hit by waste, and gave no details of flights that may have been affected. Travellers were able to carry on with their activities during the clean-up, the operator said.