The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced a new armed security team to enhance security and curb the menace of touting and other illegal activities at international airports nationwide.
The security outfit, known as the Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit, was officially unveiled by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, represented by Bunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, Managing Director of FAAN, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The news of the AVSEC unit’s inauguration was shared by the Minister and FAAN via their official X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
“As part of the steps we earlier promised Nigerians to take to curb the menace of touting and other illegal activities around our airports, earlier today, the Managing Director of FAAN on my behalf, unveiled the armed Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos,” a portion of Keyamo’s post read.
The Minister’s post further revealed that the AVSEC unit has the mandate to arrest and prosecute touts and other suspected criminals around international airports. This security outfit will also be replicated in the other four international airports in the country.
FAAN’s post on X announced that the President approved the introduction of this new security unit for international airports. The post highlighted that the unit’s authorisation to bear arms aligns with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, and selected staff from the AVSEC Department were subsequently trained.
Keyamo also stated that the introduction of AVSEC at the airports is in addition to ongoing inter-ministerial efforts to specifically address issues of extortion, bribery, and begging involving government agencies within the airports.
Keyamo acknowledged receiving numerous complaints about this problem, attributing the misconduct to a few unscrupulous individuals.
He further highlighted his ongoing collaboration with other ministers, government branches, and relevant agencies to address this issue.
A coordinated effort, led by the National Security Adviser, he disclosed, was in progress to find a solution.
The establishment of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit is the solution that is aimed at curbing begging and extortion and enhancing overall security at international airports.
Culled from First Weekly
