BY FOLASHADE KEHINDE
THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has raised the alarm over alleged planned attacks on airports across the country.
FAAN said it received an alert on the planned attack from the Ministry of Aviation.
A memo signed by the Deputy General Manager, Administration and Logistics, FAAN, S.M. Mamman, and addressed to chiefs of airport security, disclosed this.
It was dated April 9, 2021.
According to the memo, top on the list of airports being targeted are those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja and Lagos.
The Authority, however, said all airports were alerted and requested to operate “at a heightened threat level.”
It directed the security chiefs to immediately enumerate necessary countermeasures for the protection of Airports/Facilities under their purview.
The memo read in part, “I am directed to convey an alert from the Ministry of Aviation regarding security threats by criminal elements against Airports in Nigeria and to request for the immediate enumeration of necessary countermeasures for the protection of Airports/Facilities under your purview.
“Specifically, the Airports top on the list for which criminals are considering carrying out attacks include those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos amongst others. However, all airports are hereby alerted and requested to operate at a heightened threat level.”
The airport chiefs were also directed to submit a list of existing and additional countermeasures to address the threats, along with their cost implications where applicable.
They were advised to urgently convene an emergency meeting of airport security committees to review the status of airport security, “jointly recommend appropriate measures and share responsibility for effective implementation.”
