FAAN TAKES EXTRA MOVES IN ENDING ACCESS TO RESTRICTED AREAS

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has made moves to end access to the restricted areas of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, known as airside by unauthorised persons to forestall further theft of critical equipment needed for safe flight operations.

The agency said that it is collaborating with the Nigeria Air Force to further fortify the restricted areas which host the runway and vital landing aids like the airfield lighting, instrument landing system and other aeronautical facilities.

FAAN said this had become necessary to ensure that series of incursions recorded last year and the previous years, where unauthorised persons accessed the restricted areas and made away with some items would not happen again.

With the rehabilitation of the international runway of the airport, known as Runway 18R/36R, which was put back into service on Saturday, FAAN in a statement said the Military Airport Commandant, Group Capt.

ED Okolo has issued a restraining order against anyone caught trying to gain access into the runway of the airport through the perimeter fence.

FAAN said it had observed that there was an increased rate of incursion into the airside through the perimeter fence.

It said that to forestall the theft of the safety critical equipment at the restricted areas, anyone caught at the airside of the airport would be severely punished.