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Aviation stakeholders call for more funding, latest technology in promoting security in the industry

From left:chief Executive Officer, Centurion Aviation Decisive and Safety Consultant, Group Capt John Ojikutu:: Managing Director Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu: President, Aviation Round Table, Dr. Gabriel Olowo; Managing Director/CEO pathfinders International Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso: Lead Speaker, Former DG NCAA, Dr. Harold Demure and Chief Executive Officer, Selective Security System International, Mr. Ayo Obilana, during the 2th 2022 Breakfast Business Meeting by ART in Lagos.

Key players in the aviation industry have called for more funding to implement aviation security programmes in the air travel industry in view of the current insecurity in Nigeria, especially with regard to the attacks on road and rail transportation.

The experts who made the call at the 4th Aviation Roundtable Safety Initiative, ARSTI Breakfast Business Meeting in Lagos say funding is required for state-of-the-art security equipment to detect any threat to civil aviation.

The theme of the Meeting is: ‘Perspectives in Multi-Layer Aviation Security System and Passenger Facilitation’.

The security of civil aviation became top priority after the 9/11 attacks in the US which changed the face of aviation security in the world.

Since that time, layers upon layers of security have been introduced for the safety and security of passengers and airports infrastructure.

Former Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren emphasized the need for the review of the security architecture of the airports.

He said, with the sophistication of terrorists globally, the airports must also boast of having new technological facilities to beat them to their threats.

“The terrorists have power over us, they have time to plan, they have a lot of money, access to funds, they are ready to die, we don’t want to die, we don’t have money and we don’t have time and that is what we are running against”.

Former Lagos airport commandant, Group Captain John Ojikutu retired and a security expert, Mr. Ayo Obilana harped on training, retraining, a central data system and cooperation among security agencies in sharing of intelligence information.

This is apart from multi layers of screening in balancing security and facilitation which include among others, screening with metal detector, pat down, trace detection equipment and human analysis of X-ray image.

“And in intelligence, what do you look for? The presence of abnormal and the absence of normal. Some people are deployed to the airport without training whatsoever, they send them to the airport so that they can give returns to their oga’s”.

The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu assured the airports have adequate equipment and the required manpower.

“We have modern equipment, we have adequate numbers, we have personnel that are trained and I fully believe that, our security architecture is up to-date and modern”.

President, Aviation Roundtable Initiative, ART, Dr. Gbenga Olowo said all hands must be on deck with government to ensure measures put in place to prevent any attacks on civil aviation are successful.

” We must not find a time when an aircraft no matter how small is hijacked by the so-called terrorists”.

He assured that the implementation of the conclusions of the meeting would be treated by the responsible task owners.

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