The Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has made a big step towards improving airport security by establishing an Armed Aviation Security Unit (AVSEC) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This move is part of continuous attempts to fight illegal activity at Nigerian airports, including merchandise and touting.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, revealed the idea in a statement on his official X page on Monday. He stated that this is one of numerous measures promised to reduce the threat of criminal activity around airports. Keyamo stressed that the armed AVSEC squad is responsible for apprehending and punishing touts and other suspected criminals at the airports.
International airports across the country. This project seeks to provide a more secure and orderly environment for both passengers and airport personnel. Furthermore, the minister stated that this endeavor differs from prior inter-ministerial initiatives addressing concerns of extortion, and bribery, The AVSEC unit at Lagos Airport is expected to be copied at other international begging involving government institutions in airports.
AVSEC’s launch comes shortly after Keyamo announced that real solutions to the longstanding problems of begging and extortion at Nigerian airports would be released soon. These issues are frequently caused by government personnel, such as those from Customs, Immigration, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who accept bribes from people in airport terminals.
Aside from these security concerns, unauthorized traders commonly occupy facilities at major airports, selling items ranging from ‘Kilishi’ (dried meat) to various other goods. This activity not only clutters the airport environment but also poses additional security risks.
