FG Must Investigate Alleged Theft on Taxiing Aircraft
There have been reports that a taxiing private jet was burgled on the taxiway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos runway. Questions have been asked on the possibility of such incident happening.
Many officials involved in the business aviation and who are familiar with the movement of aircraft from the private jet facilities to the runway, seriously doubt that such incident could be a possibility. According to them, if it is true that incident really happened, it would be a serious breach on the security apparatus of the airport.
The Chairman of Quits Aviation Services Limited, the only authorised private jet terminal in Lagos, Sam Iwuajoku, however, confirmed the possibility of such incident as similar incidents have taken place after the initial report. On Tuesday, a private jet carrying two Nigerian musical artists were reportedly attacked and robbed on the runway of the Lagos airport. Iwuajoku, who has access to the footage of the aircraft movement to the Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) facility confirmed the possibility with subsequent thefts that have taken place on the runway and called concerned authorities to take immediate action.
THISDAY investigation showed that so many activities are taking place around the two runway of the Lagos airport where workmen, including skilled personnel and artisans are working on a new private terminal.
Iwuajoku said this is a very critical area which the federal government should focus on to make sure that the incident was investigated to make so as to curtail the reoccurrence of such incidents.
According to him, the Vista Jet aircraft had only the pilot and flight attendant on board on arrival in Lagos and it is believed that it came to Nigeria to pick up a passenger.
Iwuajoku said: “It has to be noted that every private jet that arrives Lagos must go through security checks and Immigration checks at the Quits Aviation Services Terminal, which is the only authorised terminal for business aviation where officials of Immigration, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and SSS are stationed. So on arrival every private jet must go through the facility and also before departure.
“Besides, we also monitor movement of these jets with cameras. We are the authorised service centre for five business jet manufacturers like Bombardier, Dassault, Textron Beechcraft, Embraer, Honeywell Avionics and Rockwell Collins, so we have the video movement of all jets coming into Lagos.”
THISDAY learnt from reports that FAAN has only one escort vehicle for arriving and departing aircraft for the entire airport, which handles at least 200 flights a day.
There are also indications that the illicit activities have been going on before the pilot of the private jet from Istanbul reported the theft to the control tower a fortnight ago.
Many officials involved in the business aviation and who are familiar with the movement of aircraft from the private jet facilities to the runway, seriously doubt that such incident could be a possibility. According to them, if it is true that incident really happened, it would be a serious breach on the security apparatus of the airport.
The Chairman of Quits Aviation Services Limited, the only authorised private jet terminal in Lagos, Sam Iwuajoku, however, confirmed the possibility of such incident as similar incidents have taken place after the initial report. On Tuesday, a private jet carrying two Nigerian musical artists were reportedly attacked and robbed on the runway of the Lagos airport. Iwuajoku, who has access to the footage of the aircraft movement to the Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) facility confirmed the possibility with subsequent thefts that have taken place on the runway and called concerned authorities to take immediate action.
THISDAY investigation showed that so many activities are taking place around the two runway of the Lagos airport where workmen, including skilled personnel and artisans are working on a new private terminal.
Iwuajoku said this is a very critical area which the federal government should focus on to make sure that the incident was investigated to make so as to curtail the reoccurrence of such incidents.
According to him, the Vista Jet aircraft had only the pilot and flight attendant on board on arrival in Lagos and it is believed that it came to Nigeria to pick up a passenger.
Iwuajoku said: “It has to be noted that every private jet that arrives Lagos must go through security checks and Immigration checks at the Quits Aviation Services Terminal, which is the only authorised terminal for business aviation where officials of Immigration, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and SSS are stationed. So on arrival every private jet must go through the facility and also before departure.
“Besides, we also monitor movement of these jets with cameras. We are the authorised service centre for five business jet manufacturers like Bombardier, Dassault, Textron Beechcraft, Embraer, Honeywell Avionics and Rockwell Collins, so we have the video movement of all jets coming into Lagos.”
THISDAY learnt from reports that FAAN has only one escort vehicle for arriving and departing aircraft for the entire airport, which handles at least 200 flights a day.
There are also indications that the illicit activities have been going on before the pilot of the private jet from Istanbul reported the theft to the control tower a fortnight ago.
Comments
Post a Comment