US team conclude Lagos airport security assessment
*Report ready in 45 days
The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has concluded its Security Assessment of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) and thereby expressed satisfaction at the level of compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standard and Recommended Practices in the airport.
This disclosure was made by the four-man TSA team during the debriefing held at the Conference Hall of the NCAA yesterday.
The team also said it was highly impressed with the corrective action plans put in place by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in respect of the few opened items.
They lauded FAAN’s consistency and methodology on the implementation of TSA applicable security procedures which they said was of ICAO standards and noted that this accomplishment is a reflection of sufficient training provided for the staff and coupled with effective regulatory oversight of the industry by NCAA
Spokesman for the aviation regulatory body, Sam Adurogboye said other areas of the airport examined in the course of the assessment include airports operations and standards, quality control, access control point, passengers and baggage screening, screening equipment, Airport Contingency Plan (ACP) and Airport Security Programme (ASP).
The TSA team thanked the NCAA Director General, Capt Muhtar Usman for providing enabling environment towards successful accomplishment of the exercise and the observed effective regulatory oversight over the sector.
Usman thanked the team for a job well done and expressed the Authority’s readiness to always partner and co operate with the TSA on issues of Aviation Security and Safety.
The airport authority officials in attendance however gave explanations and the time line for the closure of the few opened items that were identified by the team. The final report will be ready in 45 days time.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma has confirmed that the authority was set for the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Certification Audit.
He stated this during his recent inspection tour of facilities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in preparation for the exercise.
In pursuance of safety and security at the airport, Dunoma inspected the newly acquired security patrol vehicles and also the Fire Service vans to ensure that they meet required standards.
He also inspected the new fully equipped ambulance, resuscitation bay and observation towers which had been given a face lift.
He commended the effort staff has put in place so far in ensuring that all facilities are set, and conform to best practices in line with ICAO standards.
