Unknown individuals have taken the recently replaced airfield lighting systems at the domestic runway 18/36L at Murtala Muhammad Airport.
In Nigeria’s busiest airports, the removal of the approach lighting systems had caused security concerns.
A source who spoke to The Punch on the condition of anonymity said that individuals who removed the lighting equipment profited from the runway’s closure for more than three months.
A Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) employee allegedly conspired with outsiders to steal airport lighting equipment, according to the source.
“The criminal used the closure as an opportunity to carry out the crime. Although I am unable to estimate the precise value of the theft, practically all of the lighting was taken.
The criminal took advantage of the security measures in order to commit his crime. Almost all of the lights were stolen, although I don’t know how much they were worth. The permanent secretary dropped by to inspect the extensive damage for himself. According to the source, “many FAAN officials have been suspended.”
Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, reportedly ordered the suspension of many FAAN department heads over the disappearance of lighting equipment, as reported by The Punch.
According to the same source, inquiries have begun to determine who is responsible for the stolen protective gear.
The insider claims that a syndicate, made up of some agency employees with access to the restricted areas and outside collaborators, often breaks into airports and steals safety components.
A high-ranking FAAN official who requested anonymity stated the agency’s MD, Mr. Kabir Yusuf, was unhappy by the turn of events.
He added that security officers in charge of monitoring vital airport infrastructure had been placed on administrative leave by FAAN MD.
Former Military Commandant at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu (ret.), commented on the latest turn of events, saying, “This is not new at MMA. I wish FAAN’s administration could rewind to 1990, when airport problems were similar. To me, it seemed like an inside job. The hell did I do?
I had soldiers stationed on the runways and strictly forbade any FAAN maintenance personnel from entering the runways without my express permission. There was a full halt. I realized then that runway lights are only good for runways and not for roads or residences since they were being stolen.
The same employees who stole the items were also selling them to FAAN. For this reason, I do not agree with the unions’ decision to extend their picketing of their employers to the airport’s restricted zones.
According to The Punch, Mr. Yakubu Funtua, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said that investigations had been initiated and that the agency would do everything in its ability to prevent a recurrence.
He assured them that FAAN was actively investigating the matter. You are well aware of the several organizations operating within the airport, including the many security departments. I don’t think there is any member of the FAAN personnel who wants the agency to crash, therefore it would be unfair to place this (the theft) on them.
Keep in mind that Lagos is the primary source of our income. Which kind of employees, then, will “shoot the goose that lays the golden egg”? We can’t pinpoint who did it, but we’re making every effort to get our stuff back. We’ll get it back once we identify the perpetrators and close the security weaknesses they exploited.
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