The United States Transportation Security Administration (US TSA) has begun a special focus assessment visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The TSA is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that has authority over the security of transportation systems within and connecting to the United States.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in a statement on Wednesday, said the five-man team arrived for the evaluation which will run from June 10 to 13.
The authority said members of the TSA team are Aron Tomchuck, the team lead; Lori Silcox, the US TSA representative in West Africa; Julian Persaud, director of regional operation centre in Abu Dhabi; Richartha Bartley; and Ruth Gaertner.
Advertisement
“The objective of the visit is to evaluate the implementation of Civil Aviation Security (AVSEC) Standards and appropriate Recommended Practices as outlined in Annexes 14 and 17 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a signatory to,” the NCAA said.
“Areas to be assessed are airport operations; training, qualifications, security culture; quality control; access control; aircraft security; passenger and cabin baggage security; hold baggage security; cargo, mail, and other goods security; special categories of passengers; acts of unlawful interference prevention and preventative security measures; landside security; and cybersecurity.
“In addition, the team would evaluate the status of previously identified deficiencies, and the corrective measures implemented as described in the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) established.”
Advertisement
The NCAA said the assessment visit would also entail an on-site inspection of US aircraft operators (Delta and United Airlines) and other allied services providers to ensure compliance with applicable TSA aviation security regulations.
The authority said the TSA team will collaborate with the AVSEC teams of NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), led by Akoja Okplefu, general manager of evaluation and regulations at NCAA, and Hilary Ibiere, general manager of AVSEC operations at FAAN, during the visit.
