BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
As the yuletide season peaks, bringing with it the heightened challenge of louts and touts infiltrating various airports, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, recently convened a critical meeting with the heads of all security agencies at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos on December 2 to tackle the menace.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mrs Obiageli Orah Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection of FAAN.
According to the release, the security operatives are also to immediately address the persistent issue of passenger harassment at screening points.
During the meeting, Mrs. Kuku unveiled the ambitious “Operation AirClean,” emphasising her strong determination to restore order and ensure a seamless travel experience.
According to her, the efforts were backed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
She stressed the critical importance of sanitising airport terminals and rooting out unpatriotic conduct among officers.
She told the team that it was no longer business as usual as the time to restore the glory of the airports was now.
“The initiative was crafted to enhance inter-agency collaboration and refine passenger search procedures, with the ultimate aim of elevating the overall travel experience. It seeks to eliminate extortion, harassment, and touting activities, ensuring a safer and more efficient environment for all travelers”, she noted.
Mrs. Kuku directed the immediate removal of search tables at screening points, advocating for the use of technology to minimize manual searches and improve passenger interactions.
She also stressed the vital role of collaboration and intelligence sharing among agencies to boost service delivery and foster a smoother airport experience.
The FAAN MD/CE further highlighted that her administration would introduce mystery shoppers equipped with body cameras to monitor and assess the performance of officials at both arrival and departure security and screening areas.
The meeting was highly engaging, with representatives from various agencies presenting actionable solutions to improve services and elevate the passenger experience, while also tackling the issues of touting and solicitation.
The heads of the security agencies pledged to intensify oversight of their personnel, ensuring accountability at all times.
Additionally, it was agreed that a secure, designated waiting area would be established for visitors, and mobile courts would be set up for the swift prosecution of offenders.
Mrs Kuku reaffirmed that FAAN directors would actively engage in monitoring efforts, and existing task forces were directed to intensify their activities.
She stressed, “Any officer found guilty of misconduct must be reported to their agency head without delay”.
The meeting included representatives from the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Quarantine Services, Nigerian Police Force, Directorate of Security Services, Nigerian Customs Services, and Aviation Security Services.
The FAAN boss called for unified action to achieve this critical objective and zero tolerance for misconduct.
