Ongoing security risk checks at key airports don’t need any certification but…—ACI
The leader of Airport Council International (ACI) delegation, currently conducting security checks on some busy airports in Nigeria, Brahim Lakhlifi has explained that his group’s key assignment is to assess security architecture at airports and make critical recommendations to appropriate authorities.
He revealed that the checks do not come with any form of certification, but necessary counseling will be given to relevant agencies on completion on all visited airports.
Currently, ACI has covered Enugu, Kaduna, Lagos and is now inspecting security infrastructure at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
Business Hilights gathered that ACI was established in 1991 as a global trade representative of the world’s airports, airports’ interests with governments and international organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation and develops standards, policies and recommended practices for airports.
In an interview in Abuja, Lakhlifi, said, “I am here with our team which has members from Atlanta International Airport, Jamaica, Mauritius, South Africa, as well as representatives from Africa Civil Aviation Committee.
“We are to work together with our colleagues from FAAN in Abuja. And this is to see whether there are areas of improvement and to share experiences. This exercise aims to improve the existing system. It is to assist our members on how we can improve through the best practices that we developed at the ACI.”
Continuing the leader of the delegation noted that “We came in last week and we assessed the Lagos airport. We are here for Abuja. If FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria) wishes to have follow-up, they will inform us and we will do our best about it. Generally, we do this inspection every two years.
“Also, it is important to state that there is no certification in security. We are here to identify if there is any risk and to know what will be the best mitigation measure against such risk. I was also at Enugu and Kaduna airports for safety reviews.”
Giving further emphasis on the ACI checks, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Regional General Manager, North Central/Abuja Airport Manager, Mahmud Sani, said “The (Abuja) airport was certified in November 2017 by the NCAA, which means that we have confirmed with the acceptable standard of airport operations. It is on this basis that we’ve continued to follow up and to ensure that we remain afloat. That explains this ACI visit on airport security.
“The ACI team is going to X-ray every part of security in the airport. They were invited by FAAN. They have already done that of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and are now at the Abuja airport. For now, it is strictly security inspection of the airports.”
Sani did not explain why other airports were left out of the checks.
