By Chuks Okoh
As part of measures to improve security at the nation’s international airports , the Federal Government on Monday rolled out new measures which require all visitors to Nigeria, including foreign dignitaries and officials of multi lateral institutions to submit themselves to immigration officers for requisite scrutiny and clearance. The affected international airports include : Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt , Kano and Enugu . The new airport security measures are a fall out of Presidential Committee on review of security and screening architecture set up by the federal government in 2013.
The special adviser to the president on performance monitoring and evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye said the new security arrangement at the airports has become imperative because of the prevailing security situation in the country . Monye said from May 1, 2014, no protocol officer or aide will be allowed into the arrival , baggage halls of five international airports in Nigeria .
He said the old practice where government protocol officials , aides of dignitaries, protocol officers of private companies , unauthorised uniformed and un- uniformed military and security officials move unhindered in restricted areas around the airport terminal will no longer be tolerated . He said the unwholesome milling around of such personnel in the immigration and customs areas at the airport is now frowned at as a threat to national security.
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Speaking on Monday after the presidential committee on airport security embarked on a tour of facilities at the Lagos airport, Monye said the new directive was issued in view of recent threat to national security , even as government frowns at attempt by some government and military officials who use facilities at the airports for loitering .
He said government will implement the new security measures at the directive will not respect anybody who constitutes an infraction on its implementation . Monye said all security agencies at the airports have been mobilised to arrest any violator of the new measures which are meant to bring about sanity in the process of air travel.
The committee has representatives from Nigeria Police, office of The National Security Adviser, NSA,Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA), department of State Security Services, Nigerian Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
He said government is working on a single platform to facilitate the exchange of information sharing for passenger profiling and check in for the purpose of tracking persons on the watch list. He said part of the strategies is the re- calibration of operational equipment at
the airports to facilitate screening of passenger luggage without physical examination of the baggage .
The special adviser said the Office Of The Secretary Of The Government Of The Federation, has already issued circulars to the respective stakeholders on the implementation of the directive , even as airlines have been notified to carry passengers along . He said in the implementation of the new security measure, there would be no sacred cows , as senior public officers including governors would be arrested if they violate the rules .
He said though, convoys would be allowed along the airport, persons in the convoy must abide by the terms of engagement, as any attempt to block the access way to the airport would be met with stiff sanctions .
Money said :” over the years, it was the practice of government protocol officials , aides of dignitaries , protocol officers of private companies , unauthorised uniformed military and security officials to move unhindered in restricted areas of our airports . This unwholesome milling around in the immigration and customs areas is a threat to national security The idea is to stop all those not supposed to be within the precincts of our airports to and from using such facilities for loitering Henceforth , no protocol officer / aide will be allowed into the arrival / baggage halls of our airports .
However, accredited ministry of foreign protocol officers may be allowed in restricted areas.
All visitors to Nigeria , including foreign dignitaries and officials of multi lateral institutions , will be required to submit themselves to immigration officers for requisite scrutiny and clearance . No protocol officer / aide to inbound passengers , including trolley handlers will
be allowed into the baggage halls.
