The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved ₦3.23bn for scanners at five airports in Nigeria. At a meeting on Monday, FEC approved the award of a contract for the supply and installation of customised and exclusive and narcotic detection screening systems at the designated airports.
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Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development disclosed this to the press after the close of this week’s Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa.
The designated airports where the detection screening systems, equipped with a drive view mechanism will be operable are Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
“So it’s for the approval of the award of contract for the supply and installation of customised explosive and narcotic detection screening systems, with a remote and dual view for the international airports of Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
“Luckily enough, the Council saw the need for this kind of equipment in order to relieve Nigerians of such experiences and it was graciously approved by Council”, the minister said.
He explained that the scanners became necessary following the complaints of the passengers whose bags have to physically searched while going through the airports.
“You’ll see various agencies lined up; NDLEA, they’ll say open your bag, Immigration, they’ll say open your bag, Customs, they’ll say open your bag, EFCC, they’ll say open your bag. I’m sure you all know about that and it’s been really getting under the skin of Nigerians.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
