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The American Transportation Security
Administration (ATSA), a transportation department of the United States
government, has commenced another phase of audit for two major
international airports in Nigeria.

The audit, which started at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at the weekend, will run for one
week and will scrutinise the level of security and safety, as well as
check the fencing and fire tenders at the selected airports.

Sam Adurogboye, head of media for the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Monday disclosed to NEXT
that auditors from the United States who audited the Lagos
international airport, will from today (Tuesday) commence a “thorough
auditing” of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja. “The three airlines
that fly from here (Nigeria) to the United States of America, which are
Arik Air, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines will be audited as well,”
he added.

“They (ATSA auditors) will also visit
agencies like the NCAA and FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria)
for some information and for auditing.” Mr Adurogboye disclosed that in
May the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will commence
a comprehensive auditing of the whole industry. For the records, the
ICAO and other transport institutions from the United States of America
(USA), like the United States Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA)
have intensified the auditing of international airports and airlines in
Nigeria since the country attained the much coveted Category One Status
which gives Nigerian registered airlines the wherewithal to fly
directly from this country to the United States.

“The audit by the ICAO comes up in May
this year and that one is very comprehensive for it will include
airlines, NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency), NCAA, FAAN, NCAT
(Nigerian College of Aviation Technology), NIMET (Nigerian
Meteorological Agency), and AIB (Accident Investigation Bureau),” he
said.

For now the audit by ATSA will focus more on the Lagos and Abuja international airports.