FAAN partners ONSA on multiple baggage checks
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is partnering with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to reduce the multiple baggage check points at the nation’s airports, especially at the international terminals.
Both organisations also planned to reduce the number of military and paramilitary personnel at the international gateways for smooth passage of air travelers.
Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director FAAN, canvassed this position over the weekend in Lagos. According to her, the multiple baggage check points at the airports constituted unnecessary delays and unease for the travelling public.
She explained that FAAN and the ONSA had agreed to carry out short and long term measures to address the issue, including the creation of a joint coordination room where all the agencies could view the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to ascertain the passenger’s content.
Kuku pointed out that on assumption of office, she had a meeting with Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, to discuss the disturbing issue and how it could be streamlined for the good of all.
She said: “It bothers me so much and that was the first inquiry that I made when I assumed office. As far back as 2011 and 2012 when I was in the industry, this was something I have worked on with the former minister of aviation.
“It actually goes beyond FAAN, a lot of those agencies, Customs, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Quarantine, Agriculture, we now have Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We have almost everybody at the airports, we had Executive Order 001 during the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration to move them out under the then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office.
“Now, we have the National Single Window; I have personally sat with the NSA over the last five weeks to have conversations with him as to how we will streamline the facilitation.”
However, she explained that the opening of passengers’ baggage was for a reason, adding that this came about a few years ago when some countries had serious issues with their scanning devices that were coming from certain countries.
She, however, said that apart from the primary screening machines provided by airport authorities, some airlines also carry out secondary screening, which had nothing to do with FAAN.
“If you go to Frankfurt for example, even after you get off the aircraft and go through security, for any flight that is departing for the United States and certain countries, you will see that a secondary screening happens. It is just that they are dipping their hands in your bags here.
“Please bear with us, it is coordination that is required not just with FAAN, the ONSA has stepped in and is now helping us vigorously,” she added.
