A five-person team from the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) arrived Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Monday, June 10, 2025, for a special focus assessment visit.
The evaluation, scheduled to conclude on Thursday, June 13, aims to assess Nigeria’s adherence to international civil aviation security standards.
The TSA delegation includes team lead Aron Tomchuck, Lori Silcox (US TSA Representative for West Africa), Julian Persaud (Director, Regional Operation Centre, Abu Dhabi), Richartha Bartley, and Ruth Gaertner.
The primary objective of this visit is to evaluate the implementation of Civil Aviation Security (AVSEC) Standards and Recommended Practices, as stipulated in Annexes 14 and 17 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Nigeria is a signatory to this convention.
The comprehensive assessment will cover various critical areas of airport operations.
These include training and qualifications, security culture, quality control, access control, and the security of aircraft, passengers, cabin baggage, and hold baggage.
The team will also review security protocols for cargo, mail, and other goods, as well as measures for special categories of passengers.
Other, the assessment will address the prevention of unlawful interference, preventative security measures, landside security, and cybersecurity.
Apart from the broad assessment, the TSA team will evaluate the progress made on previously identified deficiencies and review the corrective measures outlined in the established Corrective Action Plan (CAP).
The visit also includes on-site inspections of US aircraft operators, specifically Delta and United Airlines, and other allied service providers, to ensure their compliance with applicable TSA aviation security regulations.
During this routine visit, the TSA team will collaborate closely with the AVSEC teams from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
These local teams are led by Mr. Akoja Okplefu, General Manager, Evaluation & Regulations, NCAA, and Mrs. Hilary Ibiere, General Manager, AVSEC Operations, respectively.
