By Babatunde Jimoh
LAGOS — The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Wednesday, warned that all persons without genuine and legal mission to the nation’s 22 airports will henceforth be arrested and prosecuted.

Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, who gave the warning in Lagos, said the latest security measures aimed at checking the menace of touting and the spate of terrorist attacks in some parts of the country in the interest of security and safety of the airports and their users.

Aisuebeogun said FAAN, in collaboration with some of the state governments, would in a couple of days address the menace of runway incursion, emphasising that his management will demolish all illegal structures, particularly in the Lagos area.

Although Aisuebeogun would not want to reveal strategies being adopted to check the wave of crime for security reasons, he however, said FAAN had put in place necessary security measures to ensure the safety of the travelling public, operators and other genuine users of the airport.

He added, “All necessary gadgets have been put in place, and we are putting more to ensure safety of all airport users. All movements are being closely monitored and recorded. We have at different occasions barred some individuals or bodies from the airports for security reasons in the best interest of the nation. There is also the restriction on the issuance and use of on-duty cards. We believe there shall not be unhindered access to restricted areas at the airports.”

The FAAN boss noted that FAAN is working in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure maximum safety and security at the airports, adding that special security checks on individuals and vehicles accessing the airports would be intensified by security personnel.

Mr. Aisuebeogun disclosed that all airlines have been advised to ensure the compliance of all their passengers and staff with safety and security standards and procedures or face the wrath of the airport authorities, including that of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.