Security agencies express readiness

One major concern of Nigerians over the proposed closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIN) is the security of passengers who would be forced to travel on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, on their way to and from Kaduna airport.

The fear of many Nigerians is that the Kaduna-Abuja highway is prone to armed attacks. With the planned closure of the airport, it is expected that traffic on the road would increased substantially.

Though the police and other security agencies have continued to assure Nigerians that there would be adequate deployment during the period, not a few believe that it is more of lip service than action.

The Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brigadier General Sani Usman, had had assured that soldiers tobe deployed to assist in maintaining security are in place.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Jimoh Moshood, said massive deployment has already been done to ensure that maximum security is provided along the route.

He said: “Already we have ‘Operation maximum Security’ on the road, the AIG (Assistant Inspector General) Operations is representing the Inspector General Police (IGP) on the committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Transport. So, arrangements have been properly worked out, deployments effected, we can assure members of the public of adequate security on the road from Abuja to the Kaduna airport and around the vicinity. Apart from that, the Commissioners of Police (CP), Kaduna and Abuja commands are equally part of the arrangements, such that outside the deployment from the Force Headquarters, they are equally charged to ensure deployment from their commands as appropriate, in consonant with operation order,” Moshood said.