Lagos airport gets U.S. security pass mark

THE United States (U.S.) Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has rated the Murtala Muhammed International Airport high on compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO's) standards on aviation security.


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In its latest assessment, the TSA, which is a U.S. government law enforcement agency responsible for security in all modes of transportation, including the aviation security, indicated that the aviation security measures at the MMA complied with all 25 ICAO requirements on which it was audited.

The audit, which began last Monday, was completed at the weekend by the TSA transportation security specialists comprising Messrs Rick Little and James Cardwell, who were assisted by two officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The team had, among others, looked into access control, perimeter fencing, screening of passengers and cargo and on-duty card system at the MMA.

It expressed satisfaction with the overall professional conduct of all aviation security workers at the airport.

Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba, who congratulated the management of FAAN on the outcome of the audit yesterday in Lagos, reiterated that the Federal Government would not relent in its efforts at ensuring that all the nation's airports were ICAO compliant in safety and security standards.

Managing Director, FAAN, Richard Aisuebeogun, who spoke in the same vein in Lagos at the weekend, said the TSA's latest position was a reassurance that FAAN's security personnel were well trained and could compete with their colleagues in other parts of the world.

Aisuebeogun noted that the audit report had confirmed that the increased scrutiny at the MMA could check any possible infiltration of the airport by unauthorised forces.

He added: "We strongly believe that this success will foster the NCAA's oversight functions and attainment of the FAA Cat 1 for our airports in March 2010".

The FAAN chief assured that the authority would implement the recommendations of the TSA in some areas where minor lapses were observed.

The TSA is a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. With state, local and regional partners, the TSA oversees security for highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems, pipelines, ports and 450 U.S. airports.