The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN) on Tuesday said that security was being intensified by the joint airport
security outfit to keep the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, free
and safe from criminals.

In an interview with newsmen Mr Osituyo
Olawale, the Acting General Manager, FAAN, said the joint force had brought
thefts, loitering and activities of touts to the barest minimum.

He said that 34 suspects arrested by
airport security were prosecuted by the police and convicted by the court in
April.

Olawale also said that traffic jam at the
toll gate due to security check had reduced because of an increase in the number
of security men checking motorists.

“Except at the rush hour, when people want
to catch up with their flight quickly but once the expansion work at the toll
gate is completed, the traffic will reduce completely, ” he said.

“Touts are arrested daily by the security
team but the challenge we have is that the bail conditions and the penalty
giving to these criminals in the courts after pleading guilty are too low and
this encourages the touts to keep coming back.”

Olawale said FAAN had introduced a free airport
shuttle that conveyed the staff and travellers from the old domestic terminal
to the new terminal in order to stop motorcyclists and to ease the traffic to
the international wing.