“Corruption constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security and socio-economic development of Nigeria.”
These were the words of the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, at the formal inauguration of FAAN’s Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), which held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Without mincing words, Yadudu commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort at curbing the menace of corruption and its attendant effects in the country. This is even as he emphasised that FAAN as an agency under the supervision of its parent supervisor ministry, the Federal Ministry of Aviation, had taken steps to implement various anti-corruption measures, one of which was the inauguration of ACTU by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Consequently, the FAAN’s boss charged members of the agency’s ACTU Unit to be of exemplary conduct and maintain personal integrity at all times in the discharge of their duties.
Aside Yadudu’s speech of encouragement to the ACTU Unit members, the Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and ICPC Chairman, in their separate good will messages similarly admonished them to always be of high ethical standards and show leadership by being above board in their daily conduct.
Obviously, the resolve of successive administrations in Nigeria to fight corruption and other related social vices at all levels does not seem to have yielded desired fruit. It is crystal clear that inept leadership and corruption remain the twin major monsters that have kept Nigeria crawling at 60 as a sovereign nation.
A look at the government’s anti-graft battle since inception of the nation’s nascent democracy effective May 29, 199, to date, shows that not much has been achieved as opinion in certain quarters believe that the recovered funds are allegedly being re-looted. Rather than pursue, to logical conclusion, its lofty campaign promises including eradication of perennial social problem of corruption which has assumed a dangerous dimension, what we hear is a tale of ‘corruption fighting back.’
Sadly enough, some politicians who ought to have been brought before the law or jailed for offences such as financial crimes and other corrupt practices are still walking the streets freely amid decamping to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party where they were promised adequate protection, cleansing of their sins and automatic ticket to plum political offices.
The truth is that little or no progress would be made in any system where there is bad governance. Things can never work well until we get it right by fixing the round peg in a round hole. In fact, what we often experience is imposition and deployment of expired non technocrat politicians on juicy agencies as well as recycling of government policies through seminars and conferences without implementation.
In the process, most civil servants are denied the opportunity to reach the peak of their careers before being compulsorily retired hence, the gains recorded over years are instantly eroded with corruption rearing its ugly head in the system.
Undoubtedly, the management of FAAN under the leadership of Yadudu, must more than ever acknowledge the fact that it must imbibe the spirit of hard work and eschew corruption and other sharp practices if it must remain among the most 50 successful airport managers worldwide. The security operatives at the nation’s airports and top officials in all cadres of the agency’s hierarchy must be of good character trait, purging themselves of corruption and make good image for the nation.
The history of fight against corruption in the aviation industry and Nigeria in general will not be complete without the contribution of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who on assumption of office declared his resolve to not only promote air safety but achieve positive results in the aviation industry, inject new credible blood in the management of key parastatals.
Aware that indiscipline and corruption thrive in the industry, Obasanjo made eradication of the twin evil one of the mandate to be fulfilled by the Federal Ministry of Aviation. Subsequently, he directed that Nigerian airports should be made safe, secure, clean, free of corruption and user-friendly. Indeed, his resolve to fight corruption was not in doubt. In his words; “I will fight corruption at all levels. Why? This is because corruption is the greatest single bane of our society today”.
Aside Obasanjo, preceding regimes including the current APC administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, did not hide their determination to make corruption and other social vices past tense in the capital intensive and hi-tech industry.
Unfortunately, the presidential directive is yet to yield significant fruits as observable acts of indiscipline and corruption still persists at the top echelon of the aviation ministry and some of the parastatals. The development seems to have simulated the Federal Ministry Aviation under the supervision of Sirika, to embark on the most recent drive to rekindle discipline in the industry and to fight corruption to the last ditch.
Interestingly, the management of FAAN led by Yadudu, did not lose sight of section 23 of the 1999 constitution which spelt out the constitutional provisions and administrative directives aimed at making the captains of aviation industry to maintain discipline and shun corruption in the practice of civil aviation in Nigeria.
The recent facelift given to the major international airports was not only informed by the deadly global COVID-19 pandemic reforms but as part of the measures designed to curb the observable acts of indiscipline and corruption in our airports.
A visit to the both domestic and international buildings of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, terminals shows that the multiple entry and exit points at both arrival and departure halls have been drastically reduced with strict crowd control measures and social distancing enforced for passengers by FAAN security operatives.
Also, the teaming concessionaires contracted at the terminal buildings by FAAN which hitherto depicted the nation’s prime gate way as a riotous market with touts milling around, looking for passengers luggage to steal, has similarly been trimmed down and unlawful entry as well as vehicular movement checked under a new security arrangement.
The personnel of the various paramilitary agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and their Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) deployed at the gateway have also gone through thorough orientation programme to enable them fit into the new airport security architecture amid on time screening of passengers at both the arrival and departure points.
However, aside the MMIA, Ikeja, it is still business as usual in other airports across the nation hence, crowd comprising touts, concessionaires and airport car operators have persisted at gateways uncontrolled. In contrast to MMIA, Ikeja, the compulsory wearing of facial mask by passengers is not being enforced within the other airports in the country because of erroneous believe in certain quarters that COVID-19 pandemic is not real.
Considering the narratives so far, it is obvious that unless the new security measures and discipline are strictly enforced across the nation’s 22 operational airports, the gains of post COVID-19 pandemic recoded to date will be eroded in no distant time amid second wave of economic recession yet to be abated.
Aligwo, an aviation journalist, wrote in from Lagos
