Nigeria To Deploy 3D
Body Scanners At Airports
Qasim Akinreti, Lagos
The
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is set to acquire 3D
body scanners and install them at all airports, as part of
measures to upgrade its security system and counter new
terrorism threats.
According to the Director General, NCAA, Mr. Harold Demuren,
with the new security measures at the airports, all passengers
including crew members will undergo the screening procedures and
formalities.
Stern Measures
He said a 100 per cent examination and secondary screening of
passengers, luggage and carry-on baggage is mandatory for all
passengers.
He said liquids and aerosols would no longer be allowed on board
aircrafts.
In his words, “strict compliance must be demonstrated at all
times through total physical inspection of all passengers’
accessible property at the boarding gate. Liquid, gel and
aerosols should not be allowed on board without compliance with
the requirements of 100ml for liquids and placed in transparent
resealable plastic bags.”
Warning to airlines
The NCAA boss said anyone who refuses to be screened will be
denied boarding while airlines that compromised on security will
face sanctions.
The NCAA, threatened to suspend the operations of any local and
foreign airlines whose officials conspire with passengers to
convey dangerous substances through the nation’s airports.
The warnings were issued at a meeting of aviation security
chiefs in Ikeja, Lagos following the botched attempt by a
Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to bomb an American
Northwest airliner
on Christmas day.
The meeting directed all security officials, including the
Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the
Nigeria Police to carry out optimal screening of all passengers.
Assurances
Dr. Demuren gave assurances that Nigeria’s airports were very
safe, having just passed ICAO security audit and the American
Transportation Security Administration Audit in November, 2009.
Proactive
These stern security measures were being put together in
apparent move to detect and prevent terrorist attack incidences.
In the same vein, the Nigerian government has reiterated its
condemnation of all forms of terrorism.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora
Akunyili said Nigerian security agencies were working hand in
hand with international security agencies to forestall such
occurrences.
Yinka
