30 airport offenders caught daily – FAAN

The Director of Aviation Security Services at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has disclosed that between 20 and 30 persons violate the airport rules by intruding on the airport’s space through its perimeter fences daily.

The AVSEC boss, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Afegbai Igbafe, stated that this had combined security operatives and the recently launched joint operations with military forces to increase patrols.

 He said this during a recent interview with journalists at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The security expert complained that the perimeter fences of the airports had been destroyed by neighbouring communities.

 “The airport’s perimeter fencing is an issue because when we came on board, we had a lot of encroachments through the perimeter areas because it is a vast land. But we have put things in place with the little resources we have.

“We have patrol at night, we have observation posts, which are manned by the AVSEC personnel, and we have joint patrols with the military—the Air Force and the AVSEC personnel. Because of the perimeter area, we recently launched the armed unit of the AVSEC. But most of the issue we have has to do with the fencing because a larger part of the fencing has been destroyed by neighbouring communities.

“I will tell you there is a big challenge because we get as many as 20 to 30 intruders every night, and when we hand them over to the police, before we know it, they are released. However, the Legal Department of FAAN is collaborating with the Attorney General of the states to help us get mobile courts so these things will be handled swiftly,” Igbafe stated.

 Also, the Director of Special Duties at FAAN, Henry Agbebire, said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and the Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, had been making efforts to revamp the airport infrastructure.

He noted that aside from ensuring the security of the airport infrastructure, FAAN was prioritising a more comfortable toilet system.

 He also said the current FAAN administration had zero tolerance for touting or any form of extortion at the airport.

“If you go to the MMIA, you will be happy because we have discouraged a lot of touting, extortion and unnecessary harassment.

“We are collaborating with different agencies to ensure we do not, in any way, be at cross-purpose. But as far as we are concerned, we have different strategies. Gone are the days when it was all about raiding people. Now, we have people that carry cameras; they have body camps, recording. And so it has really reduced the menace of illicit activities at the airport,” Agbebire noted.

He disclosed that the aviation minister had been passionate about building more toilets in the airport.

“People feel the customer experience has not been too good in terms of the kind of toilets we have. So, we have a FAAN Innovation and Renovation Toilet Programme, whereby we are now going to showcase brand-new toilets.

 “We are starting with the E-Wing that will be commissioned next week by the minister. And we want this type of toilet to work and feel comfortable. We don’t want customers to complain about the comfort of our toilet roll. So, we have all of that mapped and resolved. We are not stopping. By the day we are improving on our infrastructural development,” he asserted.