An industry expert is raising concerns over the low state of technology security gadget advising the Federal Government to upgrade security at Nigerian airports in order to be compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA’s) regulations for aviation security.
Hi Tech Security Gadgets are advance spy gadgets equipped with new technology.
According to Chief Executive Officer of Eden & Mcwhit Aviation Security, Dr. Naima Fraser, it is imperative in view of increasing global terrorism.
Naima, however, maintained that while it was encouraging that Nigeria had initiated policies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in order to boost the economy, it was also important that “we make our airports safer and secure in line with global requirements.”
Dr. Fraser said: “The Federal Government and Ministry of Aviation should be innovative in evolving financial solutions to achieve a first-class aviation security status for all international airports in the country without expending scarce resources during this recession. As Nigerians,we should learn to use what we have to get what we need.
“Airport concessioning has its advantages, but aviation security projects all over the world using the latest digital technology are regularly updated and cannot be borne by government funding alone.
Therefore, when our airports are concessioned, the aviation security aspect is not included and is worked out on a BMT (Build Manage and Train) basis because aviation security is the responsibility of the government with a technical partner/investor.
“West African countries such as Sierra Leone and other countries in Africa, Europe, Asia are benefitting from this business model which has been introduced to the Federal Aviation Authority by Eden &Mcwhit supported by its Principal in the United Kingdom.
“Nigeria should not waste any moretime in concluding with the company so that investors can assist the Federal Government and relevant authorities to upgrade the international airports with the latest digital aviation security equipment, products and solutions; train the Nigerian aviation security personnel and bring in professional aviation security guards to support the Nigerian AVSEC personnel, with trained K9 aviation security dogs from the UK and all the standard modern digital aviation security products.
These include cameras that detect passengers with a high fever from a distance, day and night vision CCTV cameras, latest baggage and passenger scanners, perimeter security radar and a Command and Control Centre to network all products and solutions.
According to her, all these would be put in place without any payment from the Federal Government, Ministry of Aviation or the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
”Other countries have benefited so why shoudn’t Nigeria? Federal Government agencies need to fast track proposals in respect of aviation security projects due to the long winded bureaucratic process so as to encourage foreign direct investment into the country,” she said.
