The Federal Ministry of Aviation yesterday, expressed worry over plans to attack some airports across the country. Worried airport authorities have projected that owing to the recent escalating senseless attacks with special reference to those of Kaduna Airport by kidnappers during which members of staff of the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) were abducted and the attacks on police stations in Owerri, other airports in the country may be targets of attacks by criminals. The Aviation Ministry had alerted FAAN over the necessitated tightening of security measures at airports. Though the security around airports has been beef up these concerns still prevail. The situation which has trended on social media was birth by a memo dated April 9, 2021, and signed by FAAN’s Deputy General Manager, Administration, and Logistics, S. M. MAMMA.
The memo read “I am directed to convey an alert from the Ministry of Aviation regarding security threats by criminal elements against Airports in Nigeria and to request for the immediate enumeration of necessary countermeasures for the protection of Airports/Facilities under your purview.”
“Airports in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos are at the top of the list for which criminals are considering carrying out attacks. Both airports, however, are being notified and asked to operate at a higher threat level”.
“Submit a list of current and additional countermeasures to combat the risks, along with their cost consequences where applicable.”
“Study the current state of airport security, jointly recommend corrective steps and share responsibility for successful implementation.”