The Transport Security
Administration (TSA) of the United States of America would be visiting Nigeria to audit the security system at her airports, particularly those that operate international flights.
The move is a follow up to the visit of a team from the US security body last November, where some items were exposed and ought to be closed by the aviation security, supervised by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
To ensure the airports meet the security standard in order to pass the TSA audit, top security officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who manage the airports and security personnel from both domestic and international airlines met at the NCAA headquarters in Lagos last week on how to close the open items before another visit of TSA team.
The meeting according to official sources was presided by the head of aviation security (AVSEC), NCAA, Mr Oladele Ademola, who raised critical security problems being faced by operators at the nation’s major airports.
Some of the security operatives identified security lapses at the different parts of the airports especially at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where officials at the meeting admitted to having many porous access areas.
They agreed that the perimeter fencing was not good enough, noting that unscrupulous elements jump through the fence to access the cargo section of the airport where they steal goods at the ramp.
One of the officials who attended the meeting told newsmen that poor illumination of the Lagos airport makes it easy for thieves to hide through the darkness to access the airport premises, adding that this portends danger because it could give cover to evil doers who might bring lethal weaponry and unleash havoc to airport users.
“The poor lighting of the airport is an embarrassment. These people (airport officials) travel to other parts of the world. In many airports in Europe, Asia and in Africa you can pick a pin there in the night. Why is our own different?
“There is also poor access control. The access gates to the cargo section are porous. Yes, AVSEC are now stationed there but you see the long queues and in the evening and in the night, there, security is lax” the source said.
The secure argued that to meet the standard expected by TSA, Nigeria must resolve the issue of poor illumination at the airports, adopt the screening of persons and luggage at the entrance to the terminal and also ensure that there are adequate security personnel for easy facilitation of passengers.