FAAN Tackles Intrusion At Airports …Procures Security Gadgets

As a result of rising cases of intruders allegedly opening the cargo compartment of aircrafts,  the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has embarked on a mission to put a lasting stop to the incident through the procurement of security gadgets.
FAAN, in a statement made available to airport correspondents last Tuesday, revealed that such intrusion had been noticed on flights either taxing or holding on the runway, particularly at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to the statement, this has become a cause of concern to the management of the nation’s airport, which has constituted an embarrassment to the agency.
“Recent incident involving a Boeing 737-700 belonging to Royal Air Maroc with registration number CN-RNQ, when the pilot discovered the cargo light was flickering despite the aviation security escort visual observation, that the cargo compartment was closed was embarrassing.
“ FAAN has embarked on a mission to put a lasting stop to these incidents which maintenance engineers in the industry said was normal for the cargo light to come on or flicker for few seconds and stop but not permanently on.
“Concrete steps were being taken by FAAN to ensure that no intruder gain access to the airside of the airport”, FAAN said.
It further explained that the management has engaged the services of night guards to patrol the perimeter fence and the bushes around the Lagos airport, apart from the joint patrol of the airport by the military and the police.
FAAN further explained in the statement that one of their greatest challenges was the encroachment of the airport by communities surrounding the airport.
“We have issues with our perimeter, the area the airport covers is very large. We use to have consentina wire before now, but we now use spikes.
“We are battling with the communities around, but we will ensure that things are done right. We have the military at the airside that help us,and we also have guards that hide in the bushes “, it stated.
FAAN also explained that it was working in collaboration with the Lagos State Government to address the situation, adding that something had to be done quickly to ensure safety and security.

Corlins Walter