FG procures over 400 CCTV cameras, 3,000 walkie-talkies etc
The Federal Government broke the mold in the T aviation industry as it finally provided arms to security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria late June 2024 after many years of mulling the idea. The Authority has also installed over 400 closed-circuit television cameras on the perimeter fences and other strategic areas of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. It further took delivery of 3,000 walkietalkies approved to boost communication among its security and fire service personnel. The equipment were in addition to a multi-million naira surveillance monitoring vehicle acquired by the Authority in September 2023. The SMV, configured to detect persons or objects up to five kilometers away, was deployed to the MMIA to enhance security and surveillance at the airport. The latest feats, according to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, are parts of government’s commitments to strengthen security at the nation’s airports against the rising cases of vandalism, theft, aireld incursions and related vices. Kuku had on June 24, 2024 in Lagos, commissioned 120 officers of the Aviation Security Special Force, said to have undergone mandatory training on how to bear arms and make intelligent determinations. Thrilled by the achievement, Kuku revealed that the AVSEC special officers, who had already been deployed to the five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu, would complement the activities of other security agencies at their stations. She added, “This is for them to help us in terms of securing our assets, lives, specifically at the airports. So again, as I mentioned, it’s remarkable for us. We are happy that we spent a signicant amount of time in terms of training them, and in terms of identifying the sorts of individuals that are part of this squad. They are quite professional as you can see. They will continue to engage as well as work closely with other security agencies. “The arms they carry today show they are now an elite squad that will complement the aviation staff that we have. The focus is to make sure that they are helping us in terms of executing all of our desires, specifically making sure that there are no illegal activities that go on.” She further allayed any fear of the misuse of firearms by the squad, assuring that the officers were already well trained and would continually be monitored by the Authority. She enjoined members of the public, especially air travellers, to go about their normal and legitimate works at the airports and not to fret at the sight of the squad. Kuku reiterated that the Authority intends to deter airport users from all forms of illicit activities without the use of force.
But in situations that warrant subjugation or coercion, the special squad would rise to the occasion in collaboration with other security agencies at the airports. She expressed her profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN; and the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, for their contributions towards making the establishment of the special squad a reality in spite of some challenges earlier encountered on the project. The FAAN helmsman said the agency would further concentrate on the coordination of the deployed AVSEV officers as the next phase of their training towards accomplishing the purpose for which the squad was established. More AVSEC personnel, Kuku revealed, were undergoing similar training like their commissioned colleagues and would be deployed to other airports on completion of their programmes. FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services, ACP Igbafe Afegbai (rtd), clarified that the special squad would neither operate inside and around the terminal buildings nor interfere in the functions of other paramilitary or intelligence agencies at the airports. He added, “The formation of the squad is not to undermine the already existing security structure but to improve perimeter security. The armed aviation security personnel will work around the perimeter fences, which in Lagos alone stretch 13 kilometres. More often than not we have a lot of incursions from the perimeter areas. Look at Lagos, especially in Ejigbo, where dilapidated structures around the fence allow intruders to gain access and steal.” Afegbai explained the delineation of roles and responsibilities among the different agencies operating at the airports would avert any form of clash with the new security squad. “Everybody has his/her own distinctive work, and the armed unit is not for internal usage. They are for external use. In Nigeria, people fear mostly when they see you with arms. All these touting, illegal parking, drivers struggling with passengers, and troubling passengers are the things we want to address,” he added. Beside the new security equipment acquired by FAAN, Afegbai mentioned the establishment of a new control room and an Emergency Operational Control room manned by AVSEC and the fire service as part of the additional security measures put in place across the airports. He noted that the new management of FAAN had fixed all grounded operational vehicles it inherited on assumption of office. The vehicles are currently being used for a 24-hour surveillance on the perimeter fences, landside and airelds at the airports.
