Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah
Visitors to the Nigerian Airports across the country, shall, beginning from February 1, 2014 have fresh stiffer security hurdles to battle with, after the Federal Government on Monday approved stringent new security measures at the airports.
Political Economist gathered exclusively from a member of the Airport security committee, that henceforth, vehicles, no matter their occupants, will never be allowed to get 10 meters close to the undesignated areas in and around the airports.
This is against present arrangement where some government officials or top politicians are driven or escorted by their aides almost to the tarmac of the airports.
Similarly, unauthorized security operatives, “even if such an operatives is an orderly to senior Military, Police or Political office holders, shall not be allowed to go with his or her boss beyond the ticketing hall.”
It was also gathered that both American, Chinese and British governments have donated modern passenger screening equipment to the authority of the airport, to assist in the newly introduced 100 per cent security screening of both passengers and baggage.
The source also disclosed that, the new security arrangement has provided operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) unrestrained access to every area of the airport and can also effect arrest of suspect anywhere in and around the airport.
“The number of cash expected to be taken out by anybody has also been cut down to a reasonable figure.” The new amount will be made known to the public any moment from now.
It was also gathered that corporate organizations or business people would need certificate of clearance from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NIFIU), a department under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before they would be allowed to travel with their money.
The Airport security committee comprises the Commissioner of Police (CP) Airport Command, Commander of NDLEA, representatives of Immigration Service, Customs, DSS, Chief Security Officer of the FAAN and representative of the Nigerian Air force.
