Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said national aviation security still remain vital in combating the existing COVID-19 pandemic.
Sirika, who was represented by the Director of Safety and Technical Policy, Capt. Talba Alkali, stated this at the national Aviation Security (AVSEC) Day and Awards 2021 in Abuja on Thursday.
The theme of the event is “Professional Work Force: Pre-requisite for Building an Effective Security Culture.”
The event aims at promoting security culture at airports in the country in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s declaration of the year 2021 as the year of security culture (YOSC).
According to him, efforts will be strengthened to sustain standard security measures in all airports across the country.
“Nationally, Aviation security still remain vital in combating the existing Covid-19 pandemic, sustaining security and safety in the aviation industry and a link in the security chain of the nation.
“In line with this, areas identified for improvement as well as the way forward in furtherance of the Sustainable Development of Air Transport in Nigeria include liberalisation of market access and air carrier ownership and control.
“Others are cooperation throughout the air transport value chain, consumer protection, fair competition, Security and facilitation, funding for infrastructure and intermodal integration, support to remote or peripheral destinations and capacity-building for qualified personnel.
“Also support to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), fleet modernisation and adherence to international instruments,” he said.
According to him, the role of aviation security within industry and economic development in the country cannot be overemphasized as Federal Government is on a mission to ensure Nigeria becomes a hub in the sub-region.
The minister said Nigeria was also prepared to support other sister countries to ensure that such national dream of a vibrant and solid aviation industry was sustained on the continent.
“In view of the above, the Federal Government of Nigeria has made a number of achievements in this regard: the commissioning of ultra-modern airport terminals in Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, while the Lagos and Enugu terminals await commissioning.
“The commissioning of these terminals has aided the decongestion of the terminals on one hand while improving aviation security surveillance and patrol system at the airports.
“The successful training of over 258 AVSEC officers who have undergone intensive training on STP 123 and other security related trainings at Kano and Abuja is a testimony of our resolve to ensure skilled and professional manning level at our airports,” he said.
Sirika said the construction of shooting range at certain airports, training of AVSEC on arm bearing and handling and canine deployment were meant to strengthen the integrity of the airports due to threats to the aviation industry.
According to him, all the development efforts have reached final stages of implementation.
“It is also our hope that in accordance with the current trend in Civil Aviation worldwide, we will be able to ensure that Nigeria is not left behind as propagated by the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) policy of ICAO.
“Under our watch, FAAN Training Centre was given approval and was inaugurated as an ICAO Aviation Security Training Centre (ASTC), and a number of training programmes have taken place to the benefit of the industry community with more training in due course.
“The installation of x-ray baggage and body scanners are completed at some airports, current hi-tech equipment that can compete favourably with the global community to sustain standards and recommended practices,” he said.
He said proliferation of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (known as drones) in the country, where they were being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes without adequate security clearance from Nigerian Civil Aviation Organisation, was being checkmated.
The minister said the menace of the “Insider Threat” in the aviation industry was the major challenge faced in recent time, adding that people with access to the aircraft ought to be profiled and vetted.
He said incessant monitoring and a robust security culture were vital and ought to be maintained in the airports.
“Therefore, vetting prior to granting access to airport users is key and should be compulsory.
“ If we must achieve an aviation industry that will be coveted in Africa, all hands must be on deck to ensure strict compliance to the rules and regulations that apply,” he said.
