Criminals Planning Attacks On Airports, FG Alerts Security Agents

Criminals Planning Attacks On Airports, FG Alerts Security
Agents
The Federal Government has alerted airport security chiefs
across the country of impending attacks by suspected
criminals.
To this end, the government through the Ministry of Aviation
has alerted the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
to beef up security across the airports.
FAAN’s Deputy General Manager in charge of
Administration and Logistics, S.M. Mamman, issued a
memo to airport chiefs of security to review security
measures to stave off the attacks.
The airports listed included Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto,
Kano, Abuja, and Lagos.
The memo read: “I am directed to convey an alert from the
Ministry of Aviation regarding security threats by criminal
elements against Airports in Nigeria and to request for the
immediate enumeration of necessary countermeasures for
the protection of Airports/Facilities under your purview.
“Specifically, the Airports top on the list for which criminals
are considering carrying out attacks include those in
Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos
amongst others. However, all airports are hereby alerted
and requested to operate at a heightened threat level.”
Also, airport security chiefs were directed to “submit a list
of existing and additional countermeasures to address the
threats, along with their cost implications where applicable”.
Also, they are expected to urgently convene an emergency
meeting of airport security committees “to review the status
of airport security, jointly recommend appropriate measures
and share responsibility for effective implementation”.
Daily Trust reports that new security measures have been
put in place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport
(MMIA), the busiest airport in the country.
One of the measures, it was learnt, was the new directive
barring drivers to pick arriving passengers in front of the
terminal.
Spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP
Joseph Alabi’ also confirmed that a new security
arrangement is in place at the airport even as he assured
airport users and operators of maximum security in and
around the airport.