The Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative(ASRTI), has decried the current nebulous security architecture at the nation’s gateways stating that while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) delegates FAAN to coordinate all security agencies in and around the airport it did not give them authority over other security organizations working at the airports.
Against this and many other backdrops the group has announced its endorsement of the proposed Bill of the speaker of the House of Representatives to reform the security outlay at the nation’s international airports in support of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business, (EODB) program.
ASRTI stressed that the proposal could not have come at a more auspicious time as it sought the discontinuance of the present security system coordinated by FAAN, while asking for government to establish an autonomous and encompassing transport security agency like the Transport Security Administration ( TSA).
The think-tank group in a statement made available by Assistant Secretary General, Olumide Ohunayo stated that the NCAA Act which empowers the agency to foster the development and safety of the industry, has limited its role to core operators in the industry such as Airport and Airspace Management Agencies, Airlines, Ground handlers and other service providers while other security outfits are excluded.
“This has made crisis management in the airport security apparatus cumbersome and implementation of amendments to Annex 17 almost unworkable.
The group described as a ‘ nebulous structure’ that which grants power to FAAN without authority which has increased the menace of touting and extortion at the airports which must be tackled squarely while traveling through the airports must be made seamless
It said,”In combating this and other challenges we appeal to the government to discontinue the present security system coordinated by FAAN, establish an autonomous and encompassing transport security agency. It is also incumbent on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that a holistic Aviation Security framework within the Nigerian Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) is put in place that will cater for both physical and cybersecurity needs of the industry.
“The speaker has asked the agencies and house committees to come up within two weeks a bill that would ensure a single security outfit for our airports.
“We endorse the proposed bill and timeline given and enjoin all industry participants to work towards its success by participating in all hearings and meetings that will midwife the bill into law, the Bill would ensure a single security outfit similar to Transport Security Administration, (TSA) in United States of America that would take charge of security at the airports,” it stressed.
Source: nigerianflightdeck.com