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FAAN bemoans influx of invaders into Lagos airport

By Wole Oyebade
23 September 2022   |   4:03 am
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has bemoaned the influx of invaders into the premises of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos.

Rabiu Yadudu

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has bemoaned the influx of invaders into the premises of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos.

Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, noted that no fewer than four persons are arrested daily, in attempts to breach the security system.

Recently, a stowaway was arrested in an aircraft belonging to United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) at the airport. The 14-year-old Rasheed Mufutau, who claimed frustration of living in Nigeria, had hopped into the wheel well of the packed aircraft, with the hope of landing overseas.

Yadudu told reporters that despite security measures put in place to curb incursions, invaders often introduce new technology or improvisation to beat the security system. “When found out, the agency learns from it to ensure it is not repeated,” he said.

He described the security issue as a race. “Despite the daily wins, a meagre percentile will be successful and that shames the whole work being done but that has not deterred the authority from its continued security upgrades.

“Aviation security is a very important component that is reactive. Anytime there is a violation, we learn something and make sure it does not happen again. Across the world, security challenges are all over but at FAAN, what we hardly tell people is that every day one to five people are arrested for various attempted breaches.

“We are always trying to be on top of the race but sometimes, things like these happen and thwart all our work. That is why we say there is a function of security that is reactive.” Yadudu said.

The MD added that FAAN had placed an order and was awaiting delivery of visual and thermal cameras and other security equipment including motorised surveillance equipment to raise security at the nation’s major airports.

Yadudu said: “Government’s due process is necessary and also matters in all we do. A private airport can have a problem today and by tomorrow, it can deploy the solutions to it. We know the solutions to the problems we have, but we have to ensure that the due processes are followed for us to implement them.”

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