Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
FOLLOWING mammoth crowd invaded the Sultan Abubakar Sadiq 111 Airport, Sokoto, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) may impose sanctions according to the regulations of individuals, groups or organisations found culpable for the action.
The NCAA in a reaction to the breach on Friday stated that it would be commencing a full-scale investigation into the incident.
There was a wanton security breach at the Sokoto Airport on Friday, 3rd August,2018, when supporters of former governor of the state Aliyu Wammako arrived and the crowd made uncontrolled incursions into the airside making them both a security breach and a safety hazard.
The Authority, in a statement signed by General Manager Public Relations, Sam Adurogboye said on Tuesday that, “It is in receipt of reports of a huge crowd that flagrantly broke all security rules and gained unauthorised access to the safety critical areas of the airport. These include Runway, Taxiway and Apron.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) Part 17.48.3(c), stipulates that “access by persons and vehicles to restricted areas, enhanced security restricted areas and sterile areas is restricted only to persons who have a clear need for such access by virtue of their duties.”
In addition, the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP), 6.3.1. states “in accordance with the appropriate legislation, no person to whom the legislation applies, shall enter or remain in a Restricted Area, Enhanced Security Restricted Area, or tenant restricted area unless that person has in his or her possession a Restricted Area or Tenant Restricted Area Permit in respect of that restricted area or Tenant Restricted Area and complies with all conditions of issuance of the Permit.”
The NCAA, in the statement which also stood as a warning said it will not tolerate the reoccurrence of any such safety and security violations at any of the nation’s airports.
“Therefore, in view of the anticipated increase in aviation activities, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as well as other State and Private Aerodrome Operators are hereby directed to beef up safety and security systems at their airports.”
“Similarly, the general public is hereby warned to desist from the unlawful acts as NCAA will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on any person, group of persons or organisations found culpable.”
“The Regulatory Authority will continue to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference at all the nation’s airports.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies will continue to work together to ensure that all our airports are safe and secure for airline operations.”
