How we’re tackling criminality at airports –ACP Igbafe

 

By Chinelo Obogo

Ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria’s airports has long been a formidable challenge for the Aviation Security (AVSEC) and other law enforcement agencies. From runway light theft and importation of contraband to encroachments, extortion and the vandalism of airport property, the battle to safeguard these critical national assets has been ongoing.

For the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), maintaining a secure environment amidst these persistent threats requires a constant and evolving commitment to innovation, unwavering vigilance and deeper collaboration among stakeholders.

In this interview, the Director of the Aviation Security (AVSEC), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Afegbai Igbafe, told journalists what welcomed him on assumption of office, how he took on the criminal enterprises and repositioned his Directorate for greater efficiency and better service delivery.

He described how his team apprehends between 20 to 30 intruders each night, who exploit the vulnerable perimeter fence to gain access to restricted and prohibited areas of the airport. He also highlighted that, despite AVSEC’s decade-long existence, their uniforms had not been officially gazetted, just as the security personnel had been starved of mandatory regular training. Nevertheless, he assured that many of these challenges have now been addressed and are becoming a distant memory.

Perimeter fencing

This has been an issue for a long time. When we came on board, we had a lot of encroachments in the perimeter areas because it’s a vast land. But we have tried to put measures in place with the little resources we have. We have patrols at night. We have observation posts which are being manned by the Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel. Then we have the joint patrols with the military, the Air Force, and the AVSEC personnel and because of the perimeter area too, we just recently launched the armed unit of the AVSEC.

But most of the issues we have have something to do with fencing.  A lot of the fencing has been destroyed by the neighbouring communities. That is a big challenge because we get as many as 20 to 30 intruders every night and the problem with our court system is that when we hand these intruders over to the police, before we know it, they are released. The legal department of FAAN is collaborating with the Attorney General of the states to help us get mobile courts so these things will be handled swiftly. 

Also, when we came in, we encountered a lot of challenges at the airport and our aim was to improve  security, which we did by upgrading the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system. Now, we are trying to do access control whereby every individual that is coming to the airport will be properly checked because we found that we have a lot of concessionaires and security officers who are not supposed to be in the airport that come in and out at will. So, right now, we have put the access control in place which I think will help us fill the gaps we had during the last International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit.

Allegations of private airlines being used for laundering

When you are talking about money laundering, it is a different ball game because we are talking about private jet owners. We had a meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), who gave us some guidance and instructions that we are following through the Minister of Aviation and the MD of FAAN. But we are monitoring them. With the task force in place, what we want to do first is to make sure all the private jet owners adhere to the rules of FAAN, whereby everybody will be properly screened by the AVSEC personnel. That is being worked out. Nobody is being given preferential treatment in the airport. Even the Minister and the MD subjects themselves to be searched because you must adhere to the rules when you come to the airport.

Artificial Intelligence

We are putting in place an algorithm whereby everybody will put in the database and with the flick of the button, we know those who have done their courses, those who are certified, the time they are supposed to go on certification and the time their certificates will be expiring. All of these are being worked on. We are also looking to work with an AI system, whereby when somebody is coming into the airport, there is a way the camera can be affixed on you so if you have any weapons or dangerous items, the AI will detect it and immediately send a signal to the command center.

What I’ve been able to achieve

When I came on board, I was shocked that AVSEC has been in existence for over 10 years but their uniforms were not gazetted. Well, I’ve done that. AVSEC personnel were not being trained. Some people have been in AVSEC for about 20 years, but they’ve not gone on a course. So, with the assistance of the MD and the minister, funds were released. Presently, we have Ghanaians, Sierra Leoneans, Gambians who are attending courses in our aviation security training center because we happen to be one of the security outfits that is certified by ICAO.