TheCable

Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, says security personnel of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will soon receive licences to carry arms at airports across the country.

Sirika made this known while speaking in Katsina at the 2018 Aviation Security (AVSEC) retreat on Monday. The minister was represented by Mohammed Abdulsalami, rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

He said the development would complement the activities of other security agencies in addressing security challenges at the airports.

“The federal government approved AVSEC to bear arms, which is a notable achievement in this administration’s effort at improving the general safety of its citizenry and passengers passing through our airports,” a statement by Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN spokesperson, quoted him to have said.

He said the arrangements would be finalised after they have gone through the necessary training in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommended practices.

He said the rebranding of AVSEC is crucial to building a recognisable brand identity for its officers, with the aim of making them more professional and customer-friendly in line with the Ease of Doing Business initiative.

The minister said the United Nation’s decision to establish two aviation security training colleges in the country is another achievement of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

In 2016, Sirika announced that officers would be trained to carry arms to combat terror threats and general insecurity that could lead to security breaches.