Date Published: 04/04/10

Senate Aviation Committee decries security lapses at airports

The attention of the Senate Committee on Aviation has been drawn to media reports confirming the incident at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar on Wednesday March 31, 2010, when a motorist rammed into an Arik aircraft about to take-off for Abuja. .

The committee has also noted that the motorist got to the tarmac through the Nigerian Air Force, NAF section of the airport after knocking down two gates belonging to the Air Force; the car later sped towards the Abuja-bound aircraft while passengers were still boarding.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator (Elder) Anyim Ude, MON has expressed surprise at the circumstance surrounding this incident, as it has further exposed the lapses in the security arrangements at our airports. He recalls similar security occurrences in the past.

The Committee is also shocked that security at the airports could be so porous that a man who appeared to be insane could gain unhindered access into the tarmac.

This incident raises the question on the need to review the co-existence of commercial airports and Air Force Bases across the country.

The committee therefore enjoins the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and other relevant security agencies to once again take a critical look at the issue of effective security and safety at our airports. The agencies should also put in place structures and efficient machinery to check unnecessary incursion of unwanted persons at the tarmac and indeed, the entire airport environment.

The Committee charges all the agencies concerned, especially the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB to carry out thorough investigation into this ugly incident and hope that this time around they will make the result of their investigation public, with a view to forestalling future occurrence.