Security was yesterday beefed up again at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, just as a week ago, following concerns over the threat by Boko Haram Islamic extremists to foment crisis in Lagos and other southern parts of the country.
Intending passengers, airport personnel and others now undergo serious screening before gaining entrance to the departure hall of the international terminal.
It was also gathered that the measure was put in place to ensure that some of the people declared wanted by the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) do not sneak out through the airport.
BusinessDay was informed by a senior official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) became imperative because “this airport is the main gateway of the nation”.
The source added that all international airports in the country have been given directives to beef up security so as to ward off any attack.
A meeting of security agencies and aviation parastatals was held recently where far reaching decisions on security at all airports was discussed.
Just last week, the managing director of FAAN, Richard Aisuebeogun, had directed that security be tightened around all the nation’s airports to forestall a possible attack.
The aviation parastatals renewed their synergy with the Nigerian Air Force to thwart any security threat at the country’s gateway.
The resolution was the outcome of a meeting between Aisuebeogun and inspection branch of the Nigeria Air Force from Abuja led by Ahmed Tijani Muazu, an air vice marshal, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at FAAN’s headquarters on Friday.
The FAAN boss expressed delight at the rejuvenated joint effort between the two bodies, noting that civil practice is not complete without input from the military to guarantee security and safety
Muazu, who told the FAAN managing director that the team was in Lagos for the evaluation and inspection of facilities at the Air Force base in Lagos, said they were in FAAN to establish a lasting relationship with priority on safety.
He listed safety as an area that both organisations could collaborate, adding that directors of safety in the two bodies could discuss the modalities of assisting each other.
He noted that the Nigerian Air Force has concluded plans to establish a safety school to cater for the needs of air officers.
Aisuebeogun told the delegation that the issue of security is paramount to FAAN, noting that the authority would treat any request from the Air Force relating to safety with dispatch.