The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has banned joint security tables at Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
Keyamo said the move was in line with the ministry and other agencies’ desire to eradicate corruption and bribery at the airport.
In a statement on Thursday, signed by the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Keyamo reassured the government’s commitment to achieving world-class standards in service delivery, security and passenger satisfaction across airports.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is unwavering in its commitment to achieving world-class standards in service delivery, security, and passenger satisfaction across its managed airports.
“Following an emergency high-level meeting chaired by the Managing Director and attended by Heads of Agencies, Taskforce, and FAAN Directors, Operation Air Clean has been launched to address
critical challenges at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
“These measures, fully endorsed by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, are designed to eliminate corrupt practices, curb illicit activities, and enhance the travel experience, particularly during the high-volume end-of-year travel season,” Kuku said.
According to the statement, the joint inspection tables would be replaced by intelligence-based searches, scanners and individual profiling.
It stated that the Department of State Service (DSS) personnel and Nigeria Immigration Service personnel would share counters to reduce checkpoints for outbound passengers at MMIA.
It recommended: “Immediate dissolution of joint inspection tables by security agencies. Transition to intelligence-based searches, scanners, and individual profiling. Development of a dedicated area for camera-based passenger observation.
“DSS and Immigration Service personnel will now share counters to reduce checkpoints for outbound passengers, enhancing travel flow. Customs will relocate to the AVSEC screening point for money declaration.
“On arriving, secondary screening will be done in a profiling room. The rooms will be situated at Terminal 1 and 2. Real-time screens will be installed in the profiling rooms, displaying the names, agencies, and contact details of officers on duty to ensure transparency.”