Nigeria Content Online

Passengers and
users of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on
Thursday, expressed diverse concerns over the recently introduced
stringent security measures adopted by the Federal Airports Authority
of Nigeria (FAAN).

While some agreed
with the necessity of the newly introduced security measures aimed at
checking any form of terrorism following the October 1, 2010 twin-bomb
blasts in Abuja, other travellers believe that the development has
“unbearably” added to the regular traffic jam experienced on roads
leading to the airports. At peak periods, the Lagos airport narrow
roads are often characterised by high vehicular congestion as workers
and travellers move to or leave the airport. “I never thought that the
situation in Abuja would warrant this depressing screening being
carried out by these officers,” said James Ani, an airport staff. “They
may be right but it is highly unbearable considering the time we spend
on this traffic.”

The screening is
jointly carried out by operatives of the Nigerian Air Force, Police
Anti-Bomb Squad, Immigration, National Civil Defence Corps, and
Aviation Security, on all the routes leading to the airports. According
to Mr Ani, this has added to the plights suffered by commuters on the
roads. He called on the airports authority to deploy more men to the
roads in order to fast track the process of the checks.

Go to the airports early

On the other hand,
Samuel Oluwalana, a passenger at the airport commended the initiative
and called on other airports users to comply with the security
operatives. “It is laudable despite what some people will say when you
look at the traffic that this must have caused,” he said. “It is better
to be late and be alive than to lose your live to a bomber or a
terrorist while in haste to get to the airport.”

NEXT, on Thursday,
reported the new security measures at the airport with the officers
stationed on roads at about two kilometres away from the international
terminal, where they enforce thorough screening of both commercial and
private motorists using the roads. Richard Aisuebeogun, the Managing
Director of FAAN, in a statement on Thursday, urged on the public to
assist the agency in its fight for a safe and secured airport, adding
that with respect to the prolonged traffic, travellers and airports
users should endeavour to get to the airport “two to three hours” ahead
before their stipulated departure time to avoid missing their flights.

“We also want to advise members of the local communities and all
stakeholders to report any strange or unusual activities within the
airport environment to security agencies nationwide,” he said. “We
appeal to all airport road users to cooperate with the officials
involved in the screening exercises, to ensure smooth facilitation, and
undue delays.”