…..calls on FG to beam searchlight on kaduna AVSEC recruitment exercise

The security breach at the Lagos airport has been described as an embarrassment to the nation due to the failure of aviation security in carrying out their statutory responsibilities of safeguarding passengers and airport users.
Secretary General, Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu says the ugly incident had brought to the fore the need to overhaul and critically look at the security architecture of the Lagos airport.
Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Comrade Saidu stated that those in authority have over the years refused to listen to the union’s calls and warnings as regards the porous security architecture of the airport and style of recruitment of aviation security and fire personnel.
He said the unions have been vindicated with the recent ugly and embarrassing incident, adding that it had ridiculed the country before the International communities.
Comrade Saidu noted that security lapses at the airport gradually started eroding in the past four years when the process of recruiting Aviation Security, AVSEC, was politicized with politicians taking over recruitment without regards to the operations, safety, security and standards.
The ANAP scribe insisted that the Federal Government should put a stop to the ongoing recruitment of security and fire rescue personnel exercise in Kaduna as majority he alleged were brought in by the power from above were not qualified and fit for the job.
According to him, the process of recruitment had been twisted to allow some people be brought in which was not in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization requirements on the exercise.
He said the incident had justified union’s position on recruitment into sensitive positions in aviation parastatals adding unfit candidates over the age of 30 years were being presently recruited in Kaduna saying it was not in the interest of the industry but that of politicians.
He appealed to politicians not to allow politics to override safety in the employment of security personnel in the aviation sector saying that the former Minister; Senator Hadi Sirika misplaced priority putting concession above safety.
Comrade Saidu noted that the country would have been thrown into mourning if the suspect was on a suicide mission and called for serious caution and that all serving aviation security personnel must immediately be profiled by the government.
While commending the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Hamisu Yadudu for admitting their lapses, the ANAP Scribe said all those involved should be properly interrogated and investigated.
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