L:R: Heads of security agencies, Acting Regional manager South West Airports and Airport Manager MMIA Sadiku Mamman, Oba of Shasha, Babatunde Lawal, Head Safety MMIA, Mrs. Rita Chiedu and other FAAN staff.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has embarked on a nationwide sensitization campaign to boundary communities around the airport on runway safety.
The agency says, the sensitization became necessary following activities of residents around the boundary communities of the airports that are inimical to flight safety on the runways.
Some of these activities include dumping of waste on the airport land through the fence, destruction of the perimeter fence, encroachment among others.
The Sensitization campaign organized by the Safety department, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos is to seek the cooperation of the Oba, Baales, Community Development heads and the residents in Shasha area in reducing to the barest unauthorized human activities on the airside of the airport.
The Head, Safety, MMIA, Lagos Mrs. Rita Chiedu said, the visit to the community was to solicit the help of the residents who are also critical stakeholders in safety to play their part in the overall safety of air travel.
“We need your help because the airport is for the whole nation not Lagos alone”.
The Acting Regional Manager, South-West Airport and Airport Manager, MMIA, Mr. Sadiku Mamman in his address of welcome said, the incidents of illegal entry into the sensitive areas of the airport by unauthorized persons through the Shasha end of the runway was a cause of concerned for the airport Authority.
He emphasized that, as partners in the air safety project, it was important that all hands must be on deck to ensure the safety and security of lives and property in the airport environment.
“In recent time, we have had issues of encroachment, while a lot of others get in into the air side and from all regulations it is not suppose to be”.
The Oba of Shasha, Oba Babatunde Lawal while commending FAAN for the steps taken to promote safety at the airport, said on their part, a committee had been set up to monitor the perimeter fence and anyone caught would be arrested and handed over to security agencies.
Oba Lawal also appealed to the staff of FAAN and heads of security agencies present at the event to warn their officers alleging that some of them were involvement in the movement of things out of the airport through the fence.
“They bring in some things you have to caution them let them know this is what you are here for, it is your duty”.
Elders of the community thereafter took turns to bare their minds on some of the problems they grapple with on a daily basis.
“I have seen more than ten snakes in my environment, what are you doing for us in terms of reducing the sound and helping the people within the community”.
The stakeholders meeting climaxed with a health talk and medical checks by the FAAN medical clinic.
The FAAN Safety week with the theme: ‘Involvement of Stakeholders in Runway Safety’ commenced with a walk and will conclude today with a workshop targeted at proffering solutions to promoting runway safety.
