NIGERIA: NEW SECURITY MEASURES @ NATION 5-INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

 In cognisance of terror threats in the country, the federal government has introduced new measures to restrict the movement of people, including VIPs, in sensitive parts of the five international airports in the country with effect from May 1^st, 2014.

The new measures, includes scrutiny and clearance of all visitors to Nigeria by the immigration officers  at the five designated international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. No protocol officer/aide would be allowed into the arrival/baggage halls of the five international airports in Nigeria.

Also unauthorised uniformed and un-uniformed military and security officials moved unhindered in restricted areas around the airport terminal would no longer be tolerated.

The president's Special Adviser, Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, who addressed journalists at the Murtala Muhammadu International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Thursday May 1st,, said the new security arrangement at the airports had become imperative because of the prevailing security situation in the country.

 “Over the years, it was the practice of government protocol officials, aides of dignitaries, protocol officers of private companies, unauthorised uniformed military and security officials to move unhindered in restricted areas of our airports.

“This unwholesome milling around in the immigration and customs areas is a threat to national security. The idea is to stop all those not supposed to be within the precincts of our airports from using such facilities for loitering,” Monye said.

This was disclosed by the Presidential Committee on Security which was directed by the president to review security and screening structure set up by the federal government in 2013.

 He said security agencies at the airports had been mobilised to arrest any violator of the new measures, and that there would be no sacred cows in the implementation of the new security measures, adding that senior public officials, including governors would be arrested if they violate the rules.

Monye said from May 1, a trend which has existed over the years and sometimes resulted in security breaches.