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Airport security: FAAN decries Sokoto airport invasion by party loyalists
- Action violates international conventions
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has condemned in strong terms the invasion of the runway of Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto by loyalists of some politicians who broke through the airport fence and invaded the airport in a bid to receive their political masters.
This is in veiled reference to former governor of Sokoto, Senator Aliyu Wammako’s visit to the state followed by the huge crowd that received the Senator and his party in Sokoto on Friday..
Sokoto was literally shut down as the surging crowd, came out in a show of solidarity with Wammako, President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress.
Immediately the plane carrying the senator landed at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, motorcyclists ran onto the tarmac to offer a guard of honour. And from the airport to the town, traffic moved at snail speed.
Nigeria has continued to witness human invasion of airports runway in Nigeria any time electioneering campaigns approach.
This is generally seen in aviation as runway incursion and excursion; acts the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) frown at.
Spokeswoman for FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu in a statement yesterday said the unfortunate incident, which occurred on August 3, 2018, is a gross violation of the security and safety arrangements at the airport, as thousands of political loyalists violently accessed restricted areas at the airport, breaking down the airport fence in the process and resisting all security machineries in place.
Yakubu however stated that their team of aviation security officers were able to curtail the situation, adding that normalcy was restored at the airport.
She further stated that the airport environment is a highly regulated environment and should be seen as such.
She stated that as the 2019 general elections is drawing closer; the authority will like to advise the general public, especially politicians and their supporters to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations at the airports, as we will not compromise security and safety at our airports for any reason.
Hi Wole,
I found it rather humorous to read Capt Wada charging experts to find solution to the very low mortality rate ( on or up to 10 years ) in Nigeria.
We are such a lucky nation in that owner managers of failed airlines in the last 30 years or so are still very much around and and should develop the BLUE PRINT that will be so enduring judging from there experiences which admittedly is the best teacher.
Capt Okon/ ADC, Mr Kayode Odukoya / Bellview, Capt Idris Wada / EAS, Yomi Jones / Nigeria Airways, Jimo Ibrahim / Air Nigeria , Fola Akinkuotu/ Aero Contractors and Arumeni Johnson / Arik if locked in a room for less than 24 hours for a sincere and honest discussion moderated by a Professor of Strategy wil provide answers for YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW of the industry.. This is the effort so many bodies including ART have been trying to make but either being ignored or resisted by government and or current operators who kept towing failure lines of the past with obvious early symptoms.