Lagos – Stakeholders in the aviation sector on Thursday called for a coordinated security system across all airports in the country.
The stakeholders said that collaboration between the airline operators, airport managers and the various security agencies would enhance safety and easy facilitation of air passengers.
They made the call at the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN) 2015 Safety Summit in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme was “Collaboration for Sustainable Aviation in Nigeria (Through Safety to Performance)”.
The AFARN President, Mr Kingsley Nwokoma, said collaboration was key in the aviation industry, urging stakeholders to work together to bring the enabling change.
Nwokoma said that 2015 was a very challenging year for the industry due to the decline in cargo and passenger traffic.
Also speaking, Mrs C.A. Dibi, Controller of Immigration, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said the Nigerian Immigration Service had carried out various reforms within the past few years.
Dibi said the reforms, especially the introduction of the electronic passport, were aimed at increased safety, efficient service delivery and customer satisfaction.
She, therefore, solicited for the support of airline operators in the implementation of the safety measures put in place to boost security at the airports.
On his part, DSP Adeyemi Kazeem, Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Bomb Squad, Lagos Airport, urged airline operators and airport users to be extra-vigilant in view of the threat posed by the Boko Haram sect in the country.
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Kazeem, however, maintained that the security operatives were always at alert to forestall such incidents at the airport.
He said that it was unnecessary to create public panic through spurious bomb threats.
Mr Christophe Penninck, Chief Executive Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), also spoke at the event.
He said that Nigeria should upgrade landing facilities at the various airports.
Penninck said the deployment of modern technologies would ensure that the airports are at par with the required safety and security standards globally. (NAN)
