Lomé Airport confirms plumbing incident after viral sewage claims

A plumbing incident briefly disrupted the boarding area at Lomé’s Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport on 30 September, the airport operator confirmed after allegations that passengers had been splashed with sewage circulated widely on social media.

Société aéroportuaire de Lomé-Tokoin (SALT) said the incident occurred at 12:50 following an overflow from a plumbing trap in the boarding area. Technical and cleaning teams were immediately deployed to contain the overflow and restore the affected area, according to the operator.

The statement followed claims by exiled Togolese investigative journalist Ferdinand Ayité that toilet pipes had failed, spilling faecal matter onto passengers preparing to board a flight. His account prompted widespread criticism and commentary online.

SALT said passengers were able to continue their activities during the intervention. Its statement did not confirm the allegations that passengers had been splashed with sewage or provide details of any affected flights.

TOGO-M. @kmnatchaba, un débordement d’eaux usées et excréments dans un hall accueillant des passagers n’est pas un incident banal à considérer comme normal. Même si un bouchon peut survenir dans n’importe quel bâtiment, un aéroport comme @LomeAirport doit disposer de procédures… https://t.co/s1pT7HFoeG pic.twitter.com/Ly9iaB9NsX

— Ablode Gbadja | #FreeTogo (@AblodeGbadja1) October 1, 2026

COMMUNIQUÉ

1- La Société Aéroportuaire de Lomé-Tokoin (SALT) informe les passagers et les usagers de l’Aéroport International Gnassingbé Eyadéma (AIGE) qu’un incident technique lié à la plomberie est survenu le 30 septembre 2026, à 12h50, dans la zone d’embarquement, à la suite… pic.twitter.com/7V41xw1f0c

— Aéroport de Lomé (AIGE) (@LomeAirport) October 1, 2026

Il y a l’incident, et il y a sa version « réseaux sociaux ». Entre les deux, parfois, c’est le grand écart. Kanka-Malik #Natchaba, directeur général de la Société aéroportuaire de #Lomé-Tokoin (#SALT), a dû monter au créneau jeudi pour remettre les pendules à l’heure #Aéroport… pic.twitter.com/Gl5FtmjoFu

— TOGO (@republicoftogo) October 1, 2026