Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika
The Federal Government has approved the bearing of arms by
personnel of Aviation Security (AVSEC) to enhance the National Civil
Aviation Security Programme (NCASP).
The approval has secured the support of the Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative (ART).
The President of ART, Mr Gbenga Olowo, said on Wednesday in Lagos
that the primary objective of AVSEC was the protection and safety of
passengers, crew, ground personnel, aircraft and facilities serving the
civil aviation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of State
for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, recently announced that the AVSEC
officials at the airports would start bearing arms within the next three
months.
He, however, noted that the participation of other security agencies in the sector for the same purposes was inevitable.
Olowo said: “Consequent to this approval, we strongly advise a
review of the airport security architecture to cover elements of the
various security agencies which will now form the new organogram.
“This will eliminate inter agency rivalry, foster cooperation,
provide common platform to asses measure of effectiveness, process
operational effectiveness and after action plans.’’
He, however, advised that the other security agencies should
administratively remain under their parent agencies under the
operational command and control of the new Airport Security Architecture
He further advised the government to ensure that selected personnel
to bear arms were properly trained and tested in rudiment areas of arms
handling, standard armoury and trained armourer for safe keeping of
ammunition.
According to him, necessary procedure for issuance, retrieval and
accountability of expended rounds if necessary, should also be put in
place.
“In the 90s, we delegated and rotated the heads of security
agencies serving in the airports to supervise and control night
operations which is akin to the United States Transportation Security
Agency (TSA) model.
“Security threats have evolved and we as a nation are
challenged to find the nexus and best fit security architecture, as our
security challenges cannot be the same with other nations.”
(NAN)