Nigeria ramps up airport security amid concerns terrorists are training for UK attacks
TERRORISTS are travelling from Syria to Nigeria to train jihadists for possible attacks in Britain, reports say - and Nigerian airports are ramping up security measures in a bid to squash such attempts.
Airport security across Nigeria is being tightened following an intelligence report on the terrorism threat, with the help of the British High Commission, following information that jihadists are travelling to the country from Syria to train terrorists for attacks in the UK.
Airport bosses are being urged to improve security by installing cameras on runways, screening arrivals and departures using a military task force and insisting on passengers producing travel documents if they wish to enter terminals.
Major airports in Nigeria - Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano - will thoroughly screen passengers at international terminals, with a particular focus on foreigners, in compliance with a directive by the Federal Government.
Luggage will also be closely screened as part of the process in a bid to forestall any security breach.
“We have improved security at our airports,” General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Henrietta Yakubu, told local news site Punch.
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Nigeria tightens security at international terminals to prevent terrorists travelling to the UK
“As soon as FAAN’s Director of Security got the information, he sent a memo to all heads of aviation security in all the airports especially the international terminals, warning them about the need to improve on security.
“We have installed cameras on the runway for improved surveillance of aircraft. We also have a joint military task force. So, every arrival and departure is screened.
“All other agencies which include the military have joined us to monitor the screening machines.”
Patrol vehicles will also escort every plane that lands at major Nigerian airports.
They will accompany them until their final point of departure as well as the point of parking, if they’ve just arrived.
CCTV remains throughout the airports, with more cameras being installed to monitor any suspicious behaviour.
The increased security comes as the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser gave a directive on Tuesday to the 36 states in Nigeria to develop action plans on “preventing terrorism and violent extremism” in the country.
The British High Commission facilitated the workshop.
“Countering violent extremism tasks” needs to be included in annual budget as part of the National Action Plan, they said.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned UK tourists that terrorists are “very likely” to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria.
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“Most attacks occur in the north east, particularly in Borno (including central Maiduguri and along access routes connecting the city to other major towns), Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe States,” the Foreign Office have written on their site.
“There have also been significant attacks in Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi States and in the Federal capital, Abuja.
“You should avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests as well as places visited by tourists.
“Besides Abuja, other major towns and cities remain particularly at risk, including Kano and Kaduna.”
