Stakeholders accused workers in runway lightings thef

*Call for adequate punishment

As management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) continues to unravel the circumstances sorrounding the theft of the Murtala Mohammed Airport runway lightings, stakeholders in the aviation industry have accused workers of the agency that have access to the runway of responsible for theft.

Since last week when the theft was reported, there have been series of accusations among workers especially between the engineering and operations departments of FAAN.

The runway lightings of the airport were stolen in a tight and restricted security zone of the tarmac.

In a swift response, aviation stakeholders condemned the shameful act and called for proper desciplinary action against the culprits.

Reacting to the theft, a one time MMIA airport commandant, Grp Capt John Ojikutu (retd), said the theft was not new at MMA and urged FAAN management to go back to 1990 when similar thing were happening in the airport.

Grp Capt Ojikutu said he was convinced that it was an act of insiders threats adding that he dealt with the situation while there as the military airport commandant by ordering soldiers to shoot at sight and it will lead to the end of occurrence.

“I was convinced that it was an ‘insiders threats’. What did I do? I positioned soldiers on the runways and ensured that no FAAN maintenance staff went near the runways for anything without my approval, otherwise, it was shoot at first sight. It stopped completely.

Runway lightnings were been stolen and my conclusion then was: Runway lightnings can only be useful for runways and not road nor house. Those stolen were being sold in return to FAAN by the same staff”.

Ojikutu also cautioned the management of FAAN on to look out for  airports touts that can be involved in this troublesome trends adding those touts that came out of retirement from the airlines and airports services providers and whose identity cards IDC and On duty cards ODC were not retrieved were still coming into the airport at will and not subjected to necessary checks and Screening.

Ojikutu also warned against  those that were still in service that took advantage of their on duty cards to parade the airports when they were not on duty adding that there should effectively supervised.

“These are the ones that the aviation security must look out for. Avsec must do regular background checks like the the Security Audits on those staff that work on the Security Controlled Areas. Ensure twice annually that the IDs and ODCs of retired staff are retrieved and make invalid”.

Also speaking with Daily Times, a former general secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, said those stolen items remained very bad signal showing aviation security architecture severe lacuna and exposing the failures to do the needful as appropriate and in due time.

Abioye noted that insider threats have been in the system since 1979 but authorities failed to do the needful.

According to Abioye, “many employees who were unceremoniously disengaged are already used to the system and they have no place to go but remain and lurk around to make out a living by hook or crook. You may even see some of them in uniform (white top on black/blue trousers) with a fake ID card hanging on their neck. These category of person’s are the most dangerous as they can do and undo and disappear”.

He suggested that in order to minimize this trend, employers must show empathy when disengaging staff, by paying them off whatever was due to them and might even encourage them to be on the look out for future communication if anything comes up

“Some are frustrated having been employed for years as casual staff without being confirmed as permanent staff contrary to the Labour laws of the Federation of Nigeria. These groups know that they have nothing to lose even if they are caught”.

Abioye also identified poor remuneration/welfare as another reason why workers become insider threats to the system stressing that FAAN must put it’s acts together to avoid the looming danger.

“You can imagine where Customs/Immigration/NDLEA/ Quarantine personnel aid and abet illegalities within the system, what would you expect an AVSEC officer to do? Connivance with bad guys from outside to perpetuate terrible things within for a fee is another threat”.

“There are several disciplinary measures contained in the various service conditions of workers which therefore means that any staff that infringes upon the system will face disciplinary actions as provided in their statue books and may also face prosecution”

Abioye however recalled that a few people sentenced to prison before, returned to the airport to continue their dastardly acts and called for the installation of surveillance cameras that will  work, unlike those that were mere ceremonial items.

He also called for proper monitoring of all areas both sterile or otherwise saying that there were too many people who have no business coming to the airport especially at the cargo area.

“FAAN must find a way to reduce their numbers by designing a uniformed apparel for registered cargo handlers (clearing/forwarding agents) so that their hangers on can be fully weeded out. If we are serious about security, how come even mad men and women infiltrate our system?”

“Our people should endeavour to engage in real patrol at intervals and ensure that any one caught faces the law squarely. No one can end airport stealing and other illegalities but it can be reduced to the barest minimum as our airports are too porous”.

A top management staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, who pleaded anonymity, told Daily Times that investigation was on going, however, declined further comments on the matter.