The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) is presently  trying to do access control whereby every individual that is coming to the airport will be properly checked.

Director of Aviation Security Services,Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP),Afegbai Albert Igbafe revealed this in an interview with journalists in Lagos.

This steps are being taken to ensure that those who have no business at the airport do not have access to the place.

“Because we found that we have a lot of concessionaires, we have a lot of security people who are not supposed to be at the airport that come in and out. So right now we put the access control in place, I think it will help us a great lot and we have a lot of gaps during the ICAO audits so we’re trying to fix up those gaps.”

On  the airport security and the perimeter fencing which is an issue for years,he said it is an issue in the sense that when his team came on board,they had a lot of encroachments in the peremeter areas because it a vast land.

“We have been trying to put in place with the little resources we have, mostly on patrol measures. We have patrol at night. We have observation posts, which are being manned by the AVSEC personnel.”

“Then we have the joint patrols with the military, the Air Force, and the AVSEC personnel. And because of the perimeter area too we just recently launched the armed unit of the AVSEC.”

Igbafe said a lot of the fencing have been destroyed by the neighbouring communities.

“ I will tell you there is a big challenge because we will get as many as 20 to 30 intruders every night.”

“And the problem we are having is our court system. When we hand them over to the police before we know they are released. The Legal Department of FAAN is collaborating with the Attorney General of  Lagos State to help us get mobile courts so these things will be handled swiftly. “

On the allegation against private airlines being used for money laundering  the ACP stated that recently the Minister launched a task force, who are currently investigating private jet operators owners.

“When  you are talking about money laundering is a different ball game, because we are talking about private jet owners, we had a meeting with theNational Security Adviser (NSA), who gave us some guidance and gave us some instructions and gave us some orders that we are following through the Minister and the FAAN Managing Director.

“We are monitoring them. With the task force in place, want  to make sure all the private jet owners adhere to the rules of FAAN, whereby everybody that is coming, tacking the planes or coming through their hangars will be properly screened by theAviation Security (AVSEC) personnel. That is being worked out.”

As for the VIPs. he said FAAN is  trying to launch the fast track. But the fast track system is not going to be just only for the VIPs alone.

“Anybody that is interested them will come in if you want to be attended to swiftly, seamlessly. It happens  all over the world. We have them in America and Chicago airport. They have a fast track system.”

“If I go back to what you are saying, nobody is being given preferential treatment in the airport. Even my minister subjects himself to search my MD subjects herself to search. I subject myself to search.

You will pass through the screen in machines or the body detector machine. You must adhere to the rules when you come to the airport. “