The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to establish magistrate courts at airports across the country to facilitate the immediate trial of offenders who violate airport regulations, including anti-touting laws. This initiative aims to enhance the overall security and experience for genuine airport users.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, made this known during a recent meeting with heads of security agencies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. The meeting, according to a statement by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, was convened to update airport stakeholders on current developments and to discuss the strategic goals of the agency’s management.
Mrs. Kuku identified the presence of touts and unauthorized individuals loitering around the airport as a significant challenge to maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for passengers. She emphasized that such activities, which are not tolerated in airports worldwide, would be addressed through the immediate prosecution of offenders on-site. “We have an anti-touting task force in place, and we will begin prosecuting those engaged in these illegal activities directly at the airports,” she stated.
In addition to tackling touts, Mrs. Kuku also addressed the issue of car hire operators flouting established protocols. She warned that such violations would no longer be tolerated and that strict enforcement measures would be implemented.
Mrs. Kuku also highlighted the need to modernize airport operations, particularly at the international wing of the NAIA. She announced plans to reduce manual baggage searches by introducing advanced screening technologies that would allow security officials to view luggage contents in real-time, pulling aside only those bags that require further inspection. “We must streamline our processes and keep up with modern standards. This is the 21st century, and our airports must reflect that,” she said.
Looking ahead, Mrs. Kuku disclosed that Terminal C of the NAIA is on track to be completed by December 2024. She also mentioned plans to develop more international flight routes to optimize the currently underutilized international terminal.
The initiative received praise from the Military Airport Commander, Air Force Group Captain Abbas Hashim, who called for more frequent collaborative meetings among security agencies to ensure the success of FAAN’s strategic goals.
