The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Sunday, said between 20 to 30 persons try to intrude the nation’s Airports through its perimeter fence every night.
Speaking to newsmen, the director of Aviation Security Services (AVSEC), FAAN, who is also a retired assistant commissioner of Police, Afegbai Igbafe said AVSEC, however, increased patrols and launched joint operations with military forces, as part of efforts in addressing the longstanding issue of perimeter fencing breeches.
He also disclosed that perimeter fences of the airports have been destroyed by neighbouring communities.
To him, “the airport’s perimeter fencing is an issue because when we came on board, we had a lot of encroachments through the perimeter areas because it’s a vast land. But, due to the little resources we have, we have put things in place with the little resources we have.
“We have patrol at night, we have observation posts, which are manned by the AVSEC personnel and we have joint patrols with the military, the Air Force, and the AVSEC personnel. And because of the perimeter area too, we recently launched the armed unit of the AVSEC. But most of the issue we have has to do with the fencing because a larger part of the fencing has been destroyed by neighbouring communities.”
“I will tell you there is a big challenge because we get as many as 20 to 30 intruders every night and when we hand them over to the police, before we know, they are released. However, the Legal Department of FAAN is collaborating with the Attorney General of the states to help us get mobile courts so these things will be handled swiftly,” ACP Afegbai stated.
The retired Police boss, however, expressed AVSEC’s commitment to embracing artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced security monitoring, adding that, agency is exploring AI-powered access control systems to detect potential threats and respond swiftly.
He also highlighted the significant strides made in training and equipping AVSEC personnel with the implementation of a comprehensive database system to track staff certifications and ensure adherence to international standards.
“Specifically, let’s talk about Artificial Intelligence because in some parts of the world, AI is being used, especially to monitor, to check, to see whether things have been done properly. The MD and the minister are looking at some companies who have made propositions for that and as I said, we are going to do the access control, and the access control will work with an AI system, whereby, when somebody is coming into the airport, there is a way the camera can scan to know if you have any weapons with you and that will be detected immediately and send a signal to the command centre,” he stated.
To combat allegations of money laundering involving private airlines, the FAAN AVSEC director revealed the formation of a task force to investigate private jet owners.
The task force, Igbafe said, is focused on ensuring that all private jet operations adhere to stringent security protocols, including thorough screening of passengers and aircraft.
“Recently, the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, launched a task force, currently investigating private day owners. When we talk about money laundering, that is a different ball game, we had a meeting with the NSA, who gave us some guidance and gave us some instructions as well as some orders that we are following through the minister and the FAAN MD.
“We are monitoring them, with the task force in place but, what we want to do first of all is to make sure all the private jet owners adhere to the rules of FAAN, whereby everybody that is coming or boarding private jets will be properly screened by the AVSEC personnel. That is being worked out,” Afegbai stated.
