Crucial Moment

For one month running now, the aviation community has witnessed more than three stories of bomb scare around the Murtala Muhammed Airport which, coincidentally, happens to be the number one gateway.

Each time there is bomb scare, there is no doubt that activities within the airport often get heated up with all airport users being enveloped in uncertainty as to what would happen.

One thing that is obvious is the fact that the country’s airports are not free from danger in view of the ongoing bombing rocking the country, particularly its northern part.

While one appreciates efforts of the various security agencies within the airports, it is important to let the government know that securing the airports is beyond mere frisking of passengers and vehicles coming into the airports.

Nothing is actually wrong with frisking of people and vehicles, but the crucial tool that will go a long way in capturing any evil attempt by any undesirable element to perpetrate any crime within any airport is the security camera otherwise known as Close Circuit Television (CCTV).

A while ago, it was widely reported that the federal government had acquired several CCTV cameras to be installed at various airports in line with the government’s resolve to beef up security.

Agreed that the cameras had since been installed at most of the country’s airports, the question is; how functional are the CCTVs in the face of the numerous bomb scares taking place daily?

Beside this, another major issue that needs to be addressed urgently by the government has to do with the porous nature of many of the airports, especially the Lagos airport.

It is no longer hidden that there are over seven entry points anybody can use to gain access to the airport effortlessly.

Such entry points include; the Oshodi/airport link road, the Mafoluku/Beesam link road, Agege motor road link road and Ikeja/airport link road.

It is also obvious that it is from all these roads that different people have access to the Lagos airport.

This is not to talk of the uncountable number of vehicles using the airports daily. Most of the vehicles driving through the Lagos airport daily have been found not to have any reason driving through the airport.

It is however unfortunate that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) managing the country’s airports has decided to ignore the security implications in this and chose to concentrate on the economic gains it generates from the unhealthy traffic this creates every day.

The height of the porousity strengthens the fact that this unnecessary access granted all manner of vehicles making use of the airport does not exempt even trailers and containers which at times break down and create more suffering for airport users.

God forbid that in this state of madness there is an incident of security challenge. Where lies the safety of people and even the airport?

It is at this juncture that there is an urgent need for government to look into all these lapses as evil people who have ulterior motives can capitalise on them to strike.

There is actually the need for government to regulate the number of vehicles coming into the airport and one of the best ways to do this is restrict the sale of FAAN car stickers to those who have genuine work doing at the airport.

FAAN should concentrate more on the security implications in throwing open its access gates rather than give priority to the money it generates from it. While it is agreed that FAAN needs money to survive, it is however sure that it is when there is security that you can even make money.

There is an urgent need to review the lapses and correct them in order not to be caught unawares in the current waves of terrorism blowing everywhere. Therefore, government and all stakeholders in the sector should see the constant bomb scares as a wake-up call for everybody.