Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday suspended four aviation security unit heads who were on duty when an unidentified man climbed an Azman aircraft at Lagos airport earlier in morning of the day.
The man who was carrying a bag had caused anxiety at the Lagos Airport when he climbed the fuselage of the aircraft.
The aircraft which had passengers on board was parked at the apron preparatory for taxing through the taxiway into the runway for take-off.
After beating security on duty to gain access to the apron, the man climbed the parked aircraft through the dude to hang at the compartment housing the fuel tank.
Passengers onboard who recorded the unauthorized activities were confused, shouting and unsure of what might happen
FAAN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the indefinite suspension of the unit heads in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.
“The affected officers are the Airport Chief of Security, Mamman Mohammed Sadiku and International Terminal Security Officer, Oni Abiodun.
“Others are the Head of Department Domestic Terminal 2, Kenneth Okezie and Head of Department Domestic Terminal 1, Adebowale Ayodele,” she said.
Yakubu said in the interim, one of its General Managers, Dr Anne Enyinnaya-Egbadon, had been detailed to take charge of security at the airport.
Passengers aboard a Port Harcourt-bound Azman Air flight were thrown into panic on Friday when a man climbed the aircraft while it was about to take off at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.
Yakubu said the suspension of the personnel was pending the completion of ongoing investigation into the regrettable security infringement.
She said the personnel that were suspended were on duty when the incident occurred.
They have all been replaced, in the interim, she said.
Yakubu said the current arrangement was aimed at ensuring an efficient and thorough investigation towards the recovery and sustenance of the airport’s proactive security integrity.
She added that FAAN viewed the breach as a serious security concern and had commenced investigation to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of that incident to forestall future occurrence.
FAAN officials said the straying man had been arrested and taken to an isolated area around the Lagos Airport called Tango City.
The incident provoked questions about the security loopholes at the Lagos Airport, which have recorded rising cases of stowaways and other unauthorized activities.
