LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The recently reinstalled airfield lighting systems at the domestic runway 18/36L of Murtala Muhammad Airport, Ikeja, have been carted away by yet-to-be identified persons.
The disappearance of the approach lighting systems is said to have raised security concerns in airport.
According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, those who carted away the lighting systems took advantage of the closure of the runway for over three months.
Speaking with Punch metro, the source alleged that some FAAN workers connived with outsiders to steal the airport lighting equipment.
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“The criminal took advantage of the closure to commit the crime. I cannot give the actual worth of the theft, but almost all the lighting was removed. The permanent secretary came around to see for himself the huge damage done. A lot of FAAN officials have been suspended,” the source confirmed.
It was further learnt that some heads of relevant departments at FAAN have been suspended over the missing lighting equipment on the directives of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr Emmanuel Meribole.
According to the source, the regular incursion and stealing of safety components at the airports are carried out by a syndicate, consisting of some workers of the agencies, who have access to the restricted areas and accomplices from outside.
A top official with FAAN, who did not want his name in print, said the agency’s Managing Director, Mr Kabir Yusuf, was displeased with the development.
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He stated that FAAN MD had also ordered the suspension of security personnel who were in charge of guarding critical airport facilities.
According to the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Funtua, investigations have been launched to unravel those responsible for the missing safety equipment.
“FAAN is doing all it can to get to the bottom of this. You are very aware that there are many agencies within the airport, including the different ones that are supposed to be taking care of security there. So, it would be unfair to put this (the theft) on our (members of) staff and I don’t think there is any FAAN (member of) staff that wants the agency to crash.
“Note that most of our revenue comes from Lagos. So, what kind of staff will ‘kill the goose that lays the egg?’ However, we can’t say exactly who did it, but we are doing all that we can to recover what is lost. We are going to recover it because we are going to find out those people who did it and then block all those loopholes,” he said.