Abuja runway repairs; FG inaugurates security committee

In a bid to ensure the security and safety of passengers who would be landing in Kaduna instead of Abuja Airport due to six weeks closure of the Abuja Airport from 8^th of March to 19^th of April to enable the reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway whose life span expired 14 years ago.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika has inaugurated a security committee. While inaugurating Members of Committee yesterday in Abuja, the Ministercharged them to work assiduously to ensure the safety of lives and property of passengers and other citizens during the relocation period.

Sirika stated that, “the major functions of this sub -committee within the six weeks closure of Abuja Airport is to amongst others provide security at the Abuja and Kaduna Airport including road, air and rail transportation, and also to monitor traffic movements from Abuja to Kaduna Airport, provide security to passengers and cargo between Abuja- Kaduna Airport and any other security issues deemed necessary”.

He stated further that, “it is my sincere hope that this committee being inaugurated today will live up to its duty by making sure that within the six weeks period of closure , security will be water -tight  for the massive movement of passengers , cargo luggage and other logistics to and fro Kaduna . Your job is to be proactive on any security challenge”.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, the chairman, AIG Alkali Baba of the Nigerian Police Force assured the Minister of cordial working relationship with other security agencies during the Committee’s operations.

He disclosed that the committee had already begun work by providing security to the workers rehabilitating the Abuja Kaduna expressway.

Members of the security sub-committee include the Nigerian Police force, Directorate safety and Technical Policy, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Air force.

Others include the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Customs Service , Nigerian Immigration Service , FAAN Aviation Security (AVESEC), Department of Air Transport Management and the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC).

It will be recalled that Since the announcement by the Federal government over plans to temporarily shut down  Abuja Airport to effect repairs on its dilapidated runway and redirect air traffic to Kaduna Airport, there has  been growing concerns over the security and safety of citizens and non-citizens  who would have to travel from  Abuja to Kaduna and vice versa.