The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has again ordered the dismantling of manual search tables at the screening points in the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
It therefore directed security operatives to resort to using technology-driven screening equipment to search passengers’ luggage.
This is just as the agency has ordered Aviation Security (AVSEC) officials to apply strict measures in making sure that touts are kept away from the Murtala MuhammedInternational Airport, Lagos.
Over the years, security operatives at the airport have insisted on keeping the manual screening table in order to have interface with travellers and most often harass and extort money from some of them over trivial and trumped-up infractions.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who gave the directivemandated that technology be leveraged to reduce manual searches and improve interactions with passengers. Kuku noted that collaboration and intelligence sharing among agencies were also deemed essential for enhancing service delivery.
The FAAN boss announced that management would deploy mystery shoppers equipped with body cameras to assess the performance of officials at both arrival and departure security and screening areas.
Kuku also directed that AVSEC officials must tackle the persistent problems of touting and harassment of passengers at screening points of the airports and said that this order has the full backing of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
FAAN made this known in statement on Tuesday, which was signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah.
The agency said that the managing director convened a crucial meeting with the heads of all security agencies at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and directed them to do everything possible to ensure that touts were driven out of the nation’s busiest airport.
“At the meeting, Mrs Kuku launched ‘Operation AirClean,’ making it clear that she has the full backing of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN.
‘She emphasised the urgency to clean up airport terminals and eliminate unpatriotic practices among officers. Her call to action for the leaders of security agencies was straightforward: it is no longer business as usual.
“The initiative was developed to improve collaboration among agencies and to streamline passenger search processes, ultimately enhancing the overall travel experience. It also aims to eliminate extortion and harassment of passengers, as well as to completely eradicate touting activities at the airport,” the statement said.
FAAN said the meeting was highly participatory, and representatives from various agencies proposed concrete solutions for improving services to enhance the passenger experience while eliminating touting and soliciting.
“The heads of the security agencies committed to heightened oversight of their officers, ensuring accountability on duty. It was also resolved that secure and designated area will be provided as a waiting area for visitors while mobile courts will be set up for expedited persecution of offenders.
“Mrs Kuku reaffirmed that FAAN directors would actively engage in monitoring efforts, and existing task forces were directed to intensify their activities. Any officer found guilty of misconduct must be reported to their agency head without delay,” FAAN stated.
The meeting included representatives from the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Quarantine Services, Nigerian Police Force, Directorate of Security Services, Nigerian Customs Services, and Aviation Security Services.
He said his government will act decisively on the recommendations, release a white paper and ensure that those responsible for the heinous acts face the full weight of the law.
The governor thanked members of the commission for being bold, focused, and accomplishing their task with determination in the face of threats.
Presenting the document earlier, Chairman of the Commission, Minakiri, said they had put their findings into four volumes, including the recommendations.
Minakiri explained: “We have here four volumes of the report. We have the memoranda, which is the memoranda we got after we made our publications. We also have the exhibits that came with the memoranda. We have the proceedings and the records. At the end of the day, we came up with the main report.”
Minakiri advised that the recommendations of the report should be studied and implemented so that people can be deterred from such acts.
Chinedu Eze
Follow us on:
