Terror threat: FG boosts security at airports

Nigeria is taking extra measures to strengthen security around
its airports, particularly those engaged in international flight
operations.
Daily Sun learnt the country was making additional
investments in security surveillance and monitoring software
with the deployment of more personnel at the country’s
international airports following recent terror attacks in France
after Boko Haram, Nigeria’s major terrorist group had openly
commended the French attackers.
Nigeria’s efforts to safeguard its airports comes amid
concerns by the United States of America that all might not be
well with security situations at Nigeria’s major international
airport in Lagos to safeguard it from terrorist attacks. Daily
Sun also learnt the American government had recently
mandated a team from its Transport Security Administration
(TSA) to undertake an immediate audit of the security
infrastructure and personnel at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos, to ensure it meets global
standards to permit US-owned and operated flights to
continue business with Nigeria.
In anticipation of the planned visit of the team from TSA,
Nigerian security experts, it was learnt, held several meetings
with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to
find ways of closing some security lapses at the MMIA Lagos.
Only last November, the TSA had drawn the attention of the
Nigerian government to some flaws at the Lagos airport
urging urgent measures to be taken to correct them to stem
any form of security breaches.
One of such lapses was the porous access gates into the
airport, which allowed just anybody (staff and non-staff) to
enter into the airport premises including the cargo sections, a
warning the Nigerian government needed to address with
urgency.
Many international passengers have been complaining in
recent months that the absence of perimeter fencing around
the Lagos international airport has seen even thieves entering
the airports to steal goods and luggage at the cargo section
from the ramp.
The epileptic power supply and poor illumination of most parts
of the Lagos international airport was another source of
concern to TSA as it noted these lapses provided enough
cover for evil minded persons and terrorists who usually hide
under darkness to sneak in weapons to strike at any target
like the airport.
To scale the TSA audit, Nigerian security experts are working
to get better illumination for every section of the whole airport
as well as boost equipment and personnel to screen
passengers and any other person entering the airport.