FAAN to rejig airports security over Osinbajo’s executive order

Following last week’s executive order issued by Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a new security arrangement is being worked on at all Nigeria’s airports, it was learnt yesterday.

Also, officials of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) department of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have been briefed to be up and doing and avoid anything that could compromise security at the airports.

Osinbajo had in the executive order on “Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment” declared that “There shall be no touting whatsoever by official or unofficial persons at any port in Nigeria. On duty staff shall be properly identified by uniform and official cards. Off duty staff shall stay away from the ports except with the express approval of the agency head.”

The official order as it relates to the ports of entry also reads: “All nonofficial staff shall be removed from the secured areas of airports. No official of FAAN, Immigration, security agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) or any other agency is to meet any nondesignated dignitary at any secure areas of the airport. The official approved list of dignitaries that have been pre-approved to be received by protocol officers shall be made available to AVSEC and other relevant agencies ahead of their arrival at the airport.

“Any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users shall be subject to immediate removal from post and disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations.”

Following this order, security had been reinvigorated at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos as observed by our correspondent at all entry gates at the international wing of the airport. Contacted, the acting General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said “We don’t joke with security at our airports but with this directive we would build on what is already on ground”.