A mix of properly interfaced security systems, integrated technologies, effective monitoring and prompt responses to incidents has seen a drastic reduction in cases of perimeter fence breaches, vandalism, thefts and arson attacks around Nigerian airports, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has affirmed.
The regulatory agency also attested to the fact that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) continues to provide quality security systems at the nation’s airports particularly the international aerodromes.
Acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Abdullahi Sidi explained that despite some of the teething challenges at the airports, the major aerodromes; Lagos and Abuja have continued to receive high ratings in the area of security from the international community.
The NCAA helmsman, who is the Director of Operations and Training added that Lagos and Abuja airports have consistently scored about 90 per cent in international security audits, stressing that the government was focusing on security and safety at the nation’s airports.
Specifically, Sidi noted that the air and the passenger sides of the airports are equipped with security gadgets like the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, which make it extremely difficult for intruders to penetrate restricted areas of the airports without detection, recalling that as far back as December 2009 during the underpants bomber, Abdulmutallab, the security gadgets installed in strategic areas were able to track him down.
According to him, without the high security networks in Nigerian airports, sole American airline, Delta operating into the country would have ceased operations, stressing that the Department of Transport (DoT), United States personnel, audit the Lagos airport every three months due to its interest.
He said: “Inasmuch as we have some minor security issues, Nigeria airports especially the Lagos and Abuja, security-wise, we have achieved 96 per cent of the International Security Audit of our airports and if you remember, not long ago, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, collected certificate from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Canada for achieving very high security standards at our airports.
“Every airport must have what is called perimeter fencing, which could be solid wall with a buffer and sharp fence to stop pilferation into the airport environment. Also, we have what we called the airside and the passenger side of an airport. The airside is supposed to be much more secured than the passenger side. I am happy to tell you that even the passenger side all have Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
“So, it is difficult for any unlawful person to penetrate the airport without tracking the person. I hope you can remember the Abdulmutallab era in 2009, he was tracked and even between then and now, a lot has improved in the system.”
Sidi, however, noted that some of the security challenges in the country’s aviation industry were not peculiar to Nigeria alone, stressing that each country has its own security challenges.
On stowaways, he said such shameful act had reduced in the industry in recent time, attributing such actions to ignorance.
“Most of the stowaways are ignorant of their actions and that is why they die,’ he said.
He attributed the current high flight delays in the sector to influx of more air passengers, establishment of more airlines, insufficient aircraft among operators, poor weather and inadequate equipment at most of the airports across the country.
He said the Directorate of Consumer Protection (DCP) of the agency is, however living up to its billing of protecting the rights of passengers.
“Also, we have our own challenges. An airline for instance has four aircraft and scheduled these aircraft to operate maximally, and unfortunately, one out of the four aircraft developed a fault, it is going to affect the whole schedules.
“I don’t know how the operators are going to feel about this, sometimes, the operators too are selfish with their operations. When all their aircraft are put to maximum operations, when something happens to any of the aircraft, what are the plans put in place to address those challenges?
