The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has launched an armed Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
Keyamo disclosed this in a statement on Monday evening, stating that the new unit has been mandated to arrest and prosecute touts and other suspected criminals operating around the airport.
The minister also assured that the armed AVSEC unit will be replicated at other international airports in the country.
He noted that the government is committed to ensuring that Nigerian airports meet international standards.
Keyamo stated, “As part of the steps we earlier promised Nigerians to take to curb the menace of touting and other illegal activities around our airports, earlier today the Managing Director of FAAN, on my behalf, unveiled the armed Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
“We will replicate it at other international airports. They have the mandate to arrest and prosecute touts and other suspected criminals around our airports. This is apart from the other inter-ministerial effort that is still on-going to deal specifically with the issue of agencies of government within the airports that are involved in extortion, bribery and begging.”
The new armed Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit comes a day after Keyamo expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation on Sunday, stating that his office had received numerous complaints about it.
He clarified that the culprits are not government employees but operate at airports, causing embarrassment to the government.
The minister, however, added that he is working closely with relevant ministers, agencies, and the National Security Adviser to address the issue.
“We are all working under the coordination of the National Security Adviser who called a meeting a few days ago on this issue and we shall soon unveil practical steps being taken to stem this ugly tide.”
