FAAN recruits 240 workers for safety, security at nation’s airports

Worried by the incessant terrorist attacks at the airports globally, the Federal Airport of Nigeria (FAAN) has recruited new trained staff, as part of its commitment to entrenching, safety and security at the nation’s airports.

The agency stated recently in Lagos that it has 240 newly recruited employees into the Aviation Security (AVSEC) and the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS).

It stated that the first batch of trainees is undergoing a 12-week induction training, which commenced last month.

The Managing Director, FAAN, Saleh Dunoma, who spoke at the training school at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, assured other successful candidates yet to be invited to be patient as the training is in phases.

According to FAAN, the participants, who were divided into two classes of 120 each of aviation security and fire officers, are being trained on general modules such as service delivery in Nigeria, code of ethics in aviation business, aviation safety and hazard management, amongst others.

It noted that the recruits who are domiciled at the FAAN facility would also be exposed to technical modules such as recognition of explosives and dangerous articles, access control (vehicle and persons), overview of international civil aviation, screening techniques and procedures for aviation security officers.

Others include fire engineering science, bridging apparatus wearer, media first aid, intensive paramilitary, simulator training for airport rescue and fire fighting service and soon, said FAAN.

It also noted that the 12 weeks induction training would feature a 2-week on-the-job training for Aviation Security Officers, and week international simulator training for Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services Officers.

Also, to protect the airport and country from any threatening events and to reassure the traveling public that they are safe, FAAN has assured security at all its 22 airports.

According to agency, the sole objective of the new recruits is to ensure that every luggage coming into the terminal is screened before it is taken in, adding that countries that have suffered years of terrorism and other security threats adopted similar security measure at their airports.

Meanwhile, FAAN has designed a detailed plan for the review of security architecture for airports nationwide. The security plan includes the procurement of sophisticated counter terrorism gadgets and effective collaboration among security agencies.

FAAN has also deployed next generation security system at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

It said the security system, known as ‘Advance Threat Identification X-Ray’, is located at nine different passenger checkpoints in the newly-expanded ‘D’ and ‘E’ departures halls of the terminal.

The system consisted of an explosives trace detector and high performance walk-through metal detectors to check passengers and their hand luggage for explosives, illegal weapons, contraband, narcotics and related items.