The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesady launched investigation into the recent security breach and invasion of restricted area at the Sultan Abubakar Sadiq III Airport, Sokoto.
The apex regulatory body, in lieu of the applicable regulations, said appropriate sanctions will be melted at all those culpable in the safety and security breach.
A large crowd of loyalists and supporters of a politician last Friday illegally gained access to the safety critical areas of the airport, making incursion on the runway, taxiway and apron as the aircraft of their principal, a former governor of the state, arrived.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) Part 17.48.3(c), stipulates that “access by persons and vehicles to restricted areas, enhanced security restricted areas and sterile areas is restricted only to persons who have a clear need for such access by virtue of their duties.”
In addition, the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP), 6.3.1. states “in accordance with the appropriate legislation, no person to whom the legislation applies, shall enter or remain in a Restricted Area, Enhanced Security Restricted Area, or tenant restricted area unless that person has in his or her possession a Restricted Area or Tenant Restricted Area Permit in respect of that restricted area or Tenant Restricted Area and complies with all conditions of issuance of the Permit.”
Spokesperson of the NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said attention of the authority had been drawn to the incident and NCAA would not tolerate the reoccurrence of such “safety and security violations” at any of the nation’s airports.
Adurogboye said in view of the anticipated increase in aviation activities, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as well as other State and Private Aerodrome Operators are hereby directed to beef up safety and security systems at their airports.
“Similarly, the general public is hereby warned to desist from the unlawful acts as NCAA will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on any person, group of persons or organisations found culpable. The Regulatory Authority will continue to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference at all the nation’s airports,” he said.
