Chinedu Eze
Security operatives and aviation security experts have called for concerted efforts to tighten security at the nation’s airports, expressing the fears that insider threats could endanger the lives of airport users, unless security operatives are vigilant.Countries all over the world and aviation security agencies have been on red alert following reports that the recent crash of Russian passenger plane in Egypt was a result of security lapses.
Investigation so far has revealed that the Russian airliner, which crashed 23 minutes after it took off from Sharm al-Sheikh tourist resort; Egypt, might have been downed by a bomb put in the aircraft hold by suspected terrorist.
Aviation industry experts said why the fear is apparent in Nigeria was because security operatives at the airports are known for compromising when induced with bribes. They pointed out that there have been occasions when prohibited goods had been taken to the aircraft; especially drugs.
Airport security insider expressed the fear that unless there is fortification of security at the airports, such tragedy could happen in Nigeria.
“There are two factors that could make such incident happen in Nigeria. One is that the planners can easily bribe their way and take such incendiary device into the aircraft or it could be done out of fanatical fervour; one who shares the belief of the perpetrators. This is why constant profiling of security operatives is necessary and the security system should be arranged that at any point in time it should be clear who to hold responsible whenever such incidents occur.
“There should be comprehensive CCTV coverage of movement of persons and luggage to every aircraft. This is lacking as at today at the international airports; there is no enough CCTV coverage. Government must ensure that the whole airports are adequately covered because we are all exposed to potential terror attacks,” the security source said.
Former top security chief at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, also admitted that the nation’s airports are porous and that such device could be smuggled, unaccompanied into the aircraft. He called for more vigilance and strict application of the rules.“Bribery erodes the whole gamut of the security process. As security still relies on human actions and decisions, security can be breached when those involved in protecting the environment are compromised. One, there is inadequate manpower; two, some of the security personnel are not committed to their jobs because of various grievances and third, many people who come to the airport in the morning have targeted how much they will go home with. And most often, they meet their target,” he said.
The security chief said that many of the operatives are not answerable to the Chief Security Officer under the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) even as he acknowledged that there is a cabal among the security operatives.
“Whether the officer belongs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Customs, Immigration, the Air Force or the Aviation Security (AVSEC) of FAAN, they have all formed a cabal. If you want to make any changes, you have to move everybody and start all over again. Nobody should work here for more than three months; everybody’s action must be closely watched and drastic action taken at any compromise. The people in charge of the CCTV should not be known by the security people at the airports and the CCTVs should be constantly monitored and appraised every day,” he stressed.
