NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigeria: Insider Threats More Dangerous To Civil Aviation Security

By Lateef Lawal

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has expressed concern over the emerging security threats posed by airlines and airports workers to civil aviation. She raised the concern while declaring opened a two day, ‘Insider Threat' Conference on Civil Aviation Security in Abuja. Despite this threat, the Minister assured that Nigeria would continue to work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Community in addressing the challenges to aviation security.

She said, “Nigeria has made a lot of efforts in enhancing security measures at all nations’ airports with the provision of necessary security equipment especially since 25th December, 2009 incident of Umar Farouk Abdumutallab. Princess Stella Oduah who posited that most criminal activities committed at airports have direct or indirect involvement of insider (airports staff) such as terrorist acts, pilfering, surveillance and disclosure of confidential information of sensitive areas, adding that the conference was timely. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Nigeria Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah

The Minister noted that it was in the light of this, she said that Nigeria in collaboration with the Transportation Security Administration of United States of America (TSA) and European Civil Aviation Commission (ECAC) brought the African Regional Aviation Stakeholders together in order to address the emerging threats and discuss areas of common interest. In his address,Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren explained that the conference would evaluate the threat and the measures put in place to prevent attack from aviation 'insiders'. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The conference, he said would also evaluate a measure commonly referred to as hundred percent (100%) employee screening so that the aviation security experts can proffer solutions and recommendations to the current methods to reduce the vulnerability and the threat from the aviation insiders.

Dr Demuren however listed the four main areas of the conference as:

o Understanding the threats from the Insiders

o Mitigating the threats

o Reviewing initiatives on insider threats and

o Developing a regional approach to insider threats.

“In order, therefore to enhance safety and security, we need to increase our vigilance and information sharing for the improvement of aviation security in our respective countries” he added. The two day event have in attendance delegates from several African countries, Director General of Civil Aviation Authorities of African States, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), European Civil Aviation Conference [ECAC], American Transportation Security Administration [TSA], National Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA], State Security Service [SSS], Airports Authorities, Nigerian Air Force [NAF], Aviation Security Equipment Vendors/Experts, Airlines, and the Pressmen etc

A communiqué was issued at the end of the exercise. Meanwhile, the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah played host to her counterparts from West African Region, Members States of Banjul Accord Group also meet in Abuja from December 7 – 9, 2011 to review policy issues affecting the Region.

Lateef Lawal (NigerianAviationNews)

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