The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, Monday, said Aviation Security, AVSEC, personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, would soon be licensed to carry arms.
He said the decision was to complement other agencies in combating security threats.
A statement signed by Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, in Lagos, quoted Sirika as making the disclosure at the 2018 AVSEC retreat in Katsina.
“The Federal Government has approved for AVSEC to bear arms, which is a notable achievement in this administration’s effort at improving the general safety of its citizenry and passengers passing through our airports,” he said.
The minister, who was represented by the Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalami, said arming AVSEC would ensure proper policing of the sector.
He noted that rebranding of AVSEC was important towards making its personnel more professional and customer-friendly to meet up with the initiative of the Ease of Doing Business.
“The United Nations decision to establish two aviation security training colleges in the country is another notable achievement of the present administration.
“This is aimed at assisting not only in the war against terrorism, but to also provide a special class of professionally trained AVSEC unit through the training of 30 selected aviation security master trainers that will in turn train others,” he said.
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