T he increasing numbers of stowaways gaining access to Nigerian airports, especially, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos have continued to raise serious concerns over safety and security at the nation’s airports.
The various incidences of stowaways have been described as threats to safe travels. For instance, late last year, there was a mangled body of a young man probably dropped from the undercarriage compartment of an aircraft at the Runway 18 R, known as international runway of the Lagos airport. Security operatives who removed the body for further investigation were of the conviction that it could only be another failed stowaway attempt.
Also in the same year, a 14-year-old stowaway was found unconscious inside one of the airlines of United Nigeria at the domestic wing of the Lagos airport.
The boy, an orphan, from Kwara State but based in the Badagry area of Lagos was tired of Nigeria and wanted to travel out of the country, the operators of the MMA2 terminal, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, said.
“At around 6:10a.m. on Sunday 4th September 2022, United Nigeria (the Airline) informed Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL) of a 14-year-old stowaway boy found unconscious inside one of their aircraft,” the terminal operator said in the statement.
Bi-Courtney said the boy told investigators that he gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile- Zik, the perimeter fence along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The orphan passed through General Aviation Terminal, Air Force hanger and walked down to MMA2 where he hid himself at the Apron. “He saw staff on duty at GAT and Air Force hanger but dodged them and passed through the bush,” the statement noted.
“The boy was brought out of the aircraft and taken to the MMA2 clinic for first aid medical attention. He was later transferred for further treatment to the FAAN clinic where he regained consciousness at about 10:20a.m.
“We are an active part of the ongoing investigation to ascertain exactly what happened and to aid the prevention of any such occurrence in the future.”
According to the statement, the boy has been discharged from the hospital and taken to the FAAN Crime Office at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport along with United Nigeria Security Guard for further questioning.
Last week Monday, a Nigerian stowaway was found dead in the wheel well of a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777, in Amsterdam. The dutch aircraft, registered PH-BQM, flew from Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, according to Belgium’s Aviation24.
Confirming the incident, the Royal Dutch Marechaussee, the national force of the Netherlands, performing military and civilian police duties, noted that stowaways survive sometimes but do not in most cases.
“This morning a deceased stowaway was discovered in the wheel well of a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777 (registered PH-BQM). “The aircraft originated from Lagos, Nigeria. It’s currently unknown how and when the man was able to climb into the aircraft; an investigation has been launched.
“The aircraft originated from Lagos, Nigeria. It’s currently unknown how and when the man was able to climb into the aircraft; an investigation has been launched.
The extra passenger is believed to have died from hypothermia. Occasionally, stowaways are discovered in wheel wells of aircraft.”
“Sometimes they survive, but most of the time it goes wrong given the sharp drop in temperature. On longer flights, temperatures can go down to minus fifty degrees, impossible to survive,” a spokesperson of the Royal Dutch Marechaussee explained.
However, aviation stakeholders have stated that reccurring cases of stowaways having access to aircraft needed to be arrested especially as the country prepares for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO’s), audit later in the year.
They further wondered how the stowaways accessed the airports despite the several layers of security at the airports.
Reacting, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN), said with the incessant cases of stowaways, the nation presently has huge problem on its hands.
The president of the association, Alex Nwuba, further asked how the boy was able to access the international terminal, saying what if it was an undetected bomb that was planted on the plane.
Nwuba asked, “the obvious questions begging for answers are, how did the stowaway get on the airline at the international terminal? Did he climb on while taxing or while parked? What story does this tell about aviation security in Nigeria?
He asked further, “Did he have accomplices, is this a business? What if it was not a person, it could’ve been a bomb, loaded undetected. How’d we explain? What is the protocol for inspection and workaround?”
“There are CCTV units, what story do they tell, and where they working? We have a huge problem on our hands while pursuing sundry items. Does the Ministry of Aviation have an inspectorate department?” Nwuba asked rhetorically as he expressed concern over reoccurrence.
On his part, the chief executive officer, Centurion Security and Safety Consult, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said attention must be paid to every sequence of security system at the airports and security operatives must be profiled on regular basis.
According to him, there is need for having regular checks, inspections and periodic audits from the oversight and regulations enforcement authorities internal and external for a safer airport.
“There are about eight identifiable aviation security manned/defence layers outside the National Intelligence: one, Airline Pre-Passenger Screening; two, Counter-Checking Screening; three, Airport Access Control; four, Airport Checkpoint Screening; five, Airline Passengers Secondary Screening for Boarding; six, On-Board Screening; seven, Carry-on luggage Screening and Checked in Baggage Screening” he said.
Ojikutu, who is also the Secretary-General of Aviation Round Table (ART), stated that there is airport security fence where the airport perimeter fence is not enhanced to secure the airport operational areas, noting that if anyone of these is neglected, not manned or compromised by unskilled or incompetent or corruptible staff, the airport is opened to any form of threats internal or external.
“What is necessary is having regular checks, inspections and periodic audits from the oversight and regulations enforcement authorities internal and external. All I have said are clearly stated in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Security Programmes but do we have the adequate manpower as security operatives and inspectors in required or sufficient numbers? The NCAA (Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority) should be the one to answer that from its annual audits on the operators, airport, airlines and the allied services,” he said.
Ojikutu observed that cargo screening is also very important especially for those meant to be carried into passengers’ flight, noting that any stowaway is an insider threat or assisted by a mole as an insider’s threat. Insider threat is when airport worker uses the stamp of authority because of his recogised office or position to compromise security by facilitating illicit access to the airport, aircraft or any forbidden areas of the airport. Most terror attacks at the airport were facilitated by insiders in cahoots with terrorists.
He itemised ways incidents of stowaways can be minimized, “Was the dead body that of a passenger or stowaway? If it is a passenger, hold the airline responsible: if stowaway, hold the airport security operatives or authority at the operating/security restricted area, responsible. If a stowaway, he must have been an airport/airline staff or former staff who has worked closely with aircraft or must have been a mole ‘working’ in the airport, or could have been aided by someone (insiders threat) working in the airport restricted area. It tells me that the airport security programmes do not include patrol nor internal surveillance of the flight maneuvering/grounds areas. MMA is one major airport in the country that is within the urban development area of four most populated LGAs of Lagos and complicated road networks.
“We had similar experiences with a boy of about 10 years on KLM flight from Lagos to Amsterdam returned to Lagos alive, I received him: another (dead) on Egypt Air Accra to Lagos and yet another on BA from Lagos to London and to New York but was identified as a Nigerian because of the Naira found on his dead body. No matter the sophistication of the security equipment in our airport if the operatives and supervising authorities are not skilled or dedicated, the equipment is as good as nothing. Secondly, not many of our airports have Security Fences (ICAO Annex17): they are laid more of perimeter fences (ICAO Annex17 14) which are not security enhanced nor complied with the National Civil Aviation Security Programme and you wonder how they get certified by the NCAA and sometimes too by ICAO. We have had so many incursions at MMA and other airports, including Kaduna, Maiduguri, Calabar, etc. What has been the outcome of the investigations if ever there was any? I rest my case,” Ojikutu who was former Commandant of Lagos airport, said.
