The federal government has directed the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to intensify security at the nation’s borders and the airports to prevent the movement of alleged members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from gaining access to the country.
In a letter emanating from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) dated May 25, 2018 with reference number: H. 150/5.9/56 and directed to Director General of NCAA, the Managing Director of FAAN and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, SGF said available reports reveals that Al-Abd al-Faqir Media, a pro Islamic State of Iraq and Syria media outlet, on April 26, 2018, warned that ISIS plans to attack commercial flights and bring “bloodshed to the skies”.
With that notification from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Nigerian Customs Service on June 13, 2018 issued circular to all its commands with reference number: NCS/T&T/I&E/021/S.112 and directed that Customs officials should intensify the screening process of all passengers and luggage, including “other measures you may deem fit for forestall any potential breach as directed.”
The federal government therefore ordered for “rigorous vetting of airline personnel and screening of passengers as well as increased vigilance on restricted areas at the airports”.
THISDAY spoke with the general manager, corporate affairs of FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu who said that in response to the new directive from the government, the agency has started taking proactive measures and has activated close-circuit television (CCTV) at the airside and also at the terminals of the major airports in the country.
Yakubu said there is now rigorous checks on passengers and luggage at the and the agency has ensured there is no more loitering at the airports because “we ensure that those who are travelling must have their travelling documents and are allowed to be at the airports and airport personnel are expected to have their on duty card (ODC) on them. Anyone that does not have such documents is thrown out of the airports.
“We have reinforced our security at the international airports both on passengers and on luggage. We have CCTV at the airside that is working 24 hours and we also have at the terminals. They are all working 24 hours. We also have joint military patrol team, the joint military task force that accompanies aircraft while taxiing to take off and on arrival. We ensure that we monitor every movement,” Mrs. Yakubu said.
However, a source from the agency expressed doubt that FAAN carries out regular profiling of its security personnel in order to avert insider threat.
“In the past during orientation and retraining, FAAN profiles all the aviation security (AVSEC) personnel but these days you will just be in the office and someone will just bring a letter of employment as security staff. So I am not sure it still carries out profiling, which is very important,” the FAAN source said.
Aviation security expert and member of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) has canvassed for integrated security system at the airport to reinforce security.
Ojikutu said apart from CCTV, physical surveillance, there should be continuous passenger education to ensure a tight airport environment, adding that many of the airports have porous access, which makes it difficult to ensure water tight security.
THISDAY
