The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the dissolution of joint inspection tables at Nigerian airports to address corruption and reduce delays, especially during the busy Yuletide travel season.
Announcing the decision via a post on X on Thursday, Keyamo stated, “We have received too many complaints, and it is time to act decisively!”
He emphasized that the measures, implemented through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, aim to eliminate harassment of travellers by various government agencies.
The initiative, dubbed Operation AirClean, was detailed in a position paper signed by FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku on December 2, and endorsed by Keyamo. The FAAN boss urged stakeholders, airport users, and the public to support the initiative, which seeks to create a safer and more efficient airport environment.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is unwavering in its commitment to achieving world-class standards in service delivery, security, and passenger satisfaction across its managed airports,” the document stated.
To improve operations, physical inspections and overlapping security searches will now be replaced by advanced technology, including scanners and camera-based monitoring. The FAAN MD highlighted that this transition followed a high-level emergency meeting with senior officials and heads of security agencies.
As part of the initiative, Kuku outlined specific measures for Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the General Aviation Terminal, including: Immediate dissolution of joint inspection tables, Adoption of intelligence-based searches and individual profiling, Establishment of a dedicated area for camera-based passenger observation.
Additionally, Keyamo approved the integration of the Department of State Security Services and Immigration personnel at shared counters to streamline outbound passenger processing. Customs officials will also be relocated to the aviation security point for money declarations.
“These measures are designed to eliminate corrupt practices, curb illicit activities, and enhance the travel experience, particularly during the high-volume end-of-year travel season,” Kuku explained.
