The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued a red alert on possible attacks on airports across the country.
The alert came barely a month after dual attacks at Kaduna Airport on March 6, 2021 and a week later on March 14, 2021 one of which was successful with the kidnap of 10 staff of aviation agencies.
In a memo signed by FAAN’s deputy general manager of the in charge of administration and logistics, Mr. S. M. Mamman and addressed to airport security chiefs named Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos and some others as prime targets.
The document dated April 9, 2021 reads: “I am directed to convey a warning from the ministry of aviation regarding security threats by criminal elements against airports in Nigeria, and to request the immediate enumeration of appropriate counter-measures for the safety 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.”
Hence, all airports are directed to “submit a list of current and additional countermeasures to combat the risks, along with their cost consequences where applicable.”
The airport security managers are also required to call an emergency meeting of airport security committees to “study the current state of airport security, jointly recommend corrective steps, and share responsibility for successful implementation.
Meanwhile, FAAN has reactivated the COVID-19 protocols to contain possible security breaches at airports.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN advised passengers, drivers and other airport users, particularly those at the general aviation terminal, Lagos, to always comply with all laid down protocols on Covid-19 to ensure safety of all airport users.
“The authority will like to emphasise that in line with government protocols, arriving passengers are to walk down to designated car parks to board their vehicles.
“No driver is permitted to pick up arriving passenger(s) at the frontage of the terminals.
“All drivers must park and wait inside the car parks, while arriving passengers walk down to the car parks to board their vehicles.
“For departing passengers, drivers are only allowed to drop off passengers in front of the terminals. They are not permitted to wait for any reason after dropping their passengers, it is only a ‘Drop Off’ zone.
“We will like to advise all our esteemed customers to strictly adhere to these rules, to ease facilitation and enhance safety of all airport users,” she stated.
