Yemisi Izuora
The Chief Executive Officer of Eden & Mcwhit Aviation Security, Naima Fraser, has advised the Federal Government to upgrade Nigerian airports’ security in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and international Air Transport Association (IATA’s) regulations for Aviation Security (AVSEC).
This, according to her, is necessary in view of increasing global terrorism and to achieve a global airport security status.
The aviation security expert, who gave the advice in a statement, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, for their prompt response to the aviation security situation at airports across the country.
She, however, maintained that while it was encouraging that Nigeria had initiated policies to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to boost the economy, it was also important that “we make our airports safer and secure in line with global requirements.”Stop
According to Fraser, “The Federal Government and the Ministry of Aviation should be innovative in evolving financial solutions to achieve a first-class aviation security status for all international airports in the country without expending scarce resources during this recession. Nigeria should learn to use what we have to get what we need.”
She continued, “Airport concessions have its advantages, but aviation security projects all over the world using the latest digital technology are regularly updated and cannot be borne by government funding alone. Therefore, when our airports are concessioned, the aviation security aspect is not included and is worked out on a Build, Manage &Train(BMT)basis because aviation security is the responsibility of the government with a technical partner/investor.
She posited that West African countries such as Sierra Leone and other countries in Africa, Europe, Asia are benefitting presently from this business model which has been introduced to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)by Eden & Mcwhit supported by its Principal in the United Kingdom.
Nigeria, she stated should not waste hesitate to reach agreement with the company so that their investors can assist the Federal Government and relevant authorities to upgrade the international airports with the latest digital aviation security equipment, products & solutions, train the Nigerian aviation security personnel and bring in professional aviation security guards to support the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel.
The company, Chief Executive Officer of Eden & Mcwhit Aviation Security, stated would assist with trained K9 aviation security dogs from the UK and all the standard modern digital aviation security products including thermal cameras that detects passengers with a high fever from a distance, day and night vision CCTV cameras, latest baggage & passenger scanners, perimeter security radar and a Command and Control Centre to network all products and solutions.
In her words, “All these would be put in place without any payment from the Federal Government, Ministry of Aviation or the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN).Other countries have benefited so why not Nigeria? The Federal Government agencies need to fast track proposals in respect of Aviation Security projects due to the long winded bureaucratic process so as to encourage foreign direct investment into the country.”
The Federal Government, she advised should not only be proactive with its strategy for AVSEC but that it should also not wait for something to happen before it put preventive measures in place .