Photo: The African Courier
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to beef up security across the nation’s airports to forestall highjack of aircraft and other critical facilities.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by a member from Lagos state, Mr Olajide Jimoh, at plenary.
The lawmaker, stressed the need to prioritize issues bothering the security of lives and property of citizens.
Mr Jimoh said In the bid to safeguard the airports, the house must task all security agencies to ensure that unscrupulous elements are not allowed to foment trouble under any guise at airports.
He gave an example with the recent incident of a man who reportedly caused a stir on an Abuja-Lagos flight over the weekend, thereby causing commotion which held the aircraft for over an hour as it could not move until operatives of the airport eventually evacuated the man.
“The House is concerned that security at the airports seems relaxed, as the said man should not have been allowed into the aircraft in the first place since reports had been made that the man had allegedly portrayed himself as an irritant around the airport before being cleared into the fight, only for him to constitute himself into a risk.
“The House is further concerned that the lives of the innocent law-abiding citizens on board the aircraft were avoidably endangered by the security breach, whereas the government had the responsibility to protect the citizens at all times.
Adopting the motion, the house tasked authorities of FAAN and other relevant agencies in the aviation sector to pay more attention to security concerns and ensure the lives of citizens are not in any way endangered.
Reporting by Ibrahim Shehu; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare