The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled plans to establish magistrate courts at airports nationwide, aiming to provide immediate trials for those who violate anti-touting and other airport regulations.
FAAN Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku announced this initiative during a meeting with security agency heads at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja on Thursday.
The gathering focused on recent airport developments, management’s strategic goals, and strategies to enhance passenger experience.
“There are people who have absolutely no business being at the airport, and they continue to create issues for us,” Kuku stated.
She added, “We have an anti-touting task force, and as it is, we are going to start the prosecution onsite of those engaging in these illicit activities or loitering around the airport environment and harassing passengers. This doesn’t happen elsewhere around the world, and the airport should be a safe space.”
Kuku highlighted the persistent challenge of touts and loiterers compromising genuine passengers’ comfort. She also warned car hire operators violating protocols that such behavior would no longer be tolerated.
Addressing baggage screening, Kuku emphasized the need to reduce manual searches at the international terminal. She promised a new process where luggage would go through screening machines with real-time monitoring by security officials, reserving manual checks only for suspicious items.
“We have to streamline our efforts. We need to improve processes at the airport. This is the 21st century, and we must keep up with the times,” Kuku asserted.
The FAAN chief also provided updates on ongoing projects, announcing that Terminal C at Abuja airport should be operational by December 2024. She stressed the importance of developing more international routes to fully utilize the currently “extremely underutilized” International Terminal.
Representing the security agencies, Air Force Group Captain Abbas Hashim, the Military Airport Commander at NAIA, expressed gratitude for the meeting.
He called for more frequent inter-agency gatherings and improved cooperation between security bodies and FAAN.
