The House of Representatives has called for tighter security in and around airports nationwide to better protect the lives and property of air passengers. This demand followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Representative Jide Jimoh during the plenary on Tuesday. Titled “Need to Ensure Strict Security in and Around Our Airports and Other Critical Facilities,” the motion urged the Federal Government to improve airport security standards, particularly by exploring new technologies.
Lawmakers also appealed to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and other relevant aviation agencies to give greater attention to security concerns and ensure that citizens’ lives are not endangered. They called on security agencies to prevent unscrupulous elements from causing trouble in any guise at the airports.
Jimoh based the motion on an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where passenger Obiajulu Uja protested the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, during an Ibom Air Abuja‑Lagos flight. A viral video showed Uja being carried off the plane after he began a lone protest, demanding that the president‑elect never be sworn in. It took six airport security officers more than an hour to evacuate him, holding up the aircraft.
In moving the motion, Jimoh noted that the incident highlighted a serious security lapse: “The House notes that a man reportedly caused a stir on an Abuja‑Lagos flight over the weekend, thereby holding the aircraft for over an hour until operatives of the airport eventually evacuated him.” He emphasized that security must be a priority and that permanent, aggressive steps are needed to improve airport safety. The House expressed concern that the man should not have been allowed onto the aircraft, citing reports that he had previously been identified as a potential irritant at the airport. This breach endangered the lives of innocent, law‑abiding passengers, a risk the government has a responsibility to prevent.
The House is confident that the government and its agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, will not shy away from their responsibility to safeguard citizens at all times.
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