Aviation security staff now licensed to bear arms – Minister

Tough time awaits persons who foment trouble at the airports or access restricted areas at airports as aviation security (AVSEC) personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN “will soon be licensed to carry arms.
” Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who disclosed this yesterday at the 2018 AVSEC Retreat held in Katsina state, said arms-bearing AVSEC personnel would complement other agencies in the event of security threat.
He said discussion was at its final stage for approval saying it will further strengthen the integrity of the airports in view of the growing threats to the aviation industry.
“The federal government approved for AVSEC to bear arms which is a notable achievement in this administration’s effort at improving the general safety of its citizenry and passengers passing through our airports,” he said.
The minister, who was represented by the rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Capt.
Mohammed Abdulsalami, also said arming AVSEC will ensure proper policing of the sector by AVSEC personnel saying it was part of efforts by the President Buhari administration to give the country dividends of democracy.
He said rebranding AVSEC staff was important in building brand identity and creating a recognisable corporate National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned the public to shun consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide.
The agency gave the warning yesterday in Abuja in a statement issued by its management, saying that dangerous effects of carbide-ripened fruits include cancer and other illnesses.
According to the management, consuming such fruits can also cause heart, kidney and liver failure.
“NAFDAC hereby warns farmers and the general public against the dangers of using calcium carbide for ripening fruits such as banana, mango, plantain, orange and cashew,” the statement read in part.
On how to identify carbide-ripened fruits, the management said “naturally ripened fruits usually have brown or black spots while those artificially ripened have traces of powdery substances and peel off quickly.
” The Agency further warned that “ripening fruits and vegetables with calcium carbide is a criminal offence,” adding that, henceforth, perpetrators would be prosecuted.
It advised the public to “report suspected cases to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 09094262773, 09094262772 and 08133630600.
” The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
Founder of Drugs for AIDS and HIV Patients, a non-profi t organisation, Moji Adeyeye, is the Director-General of the agency.
identity for officers with the aim of making them much more professional and customer friendly to meet up with the initiative of the Ease of Doing Business.
Sirika also noted that the United Nations decision to establish two aviation security training colleges in the country was another notable achievement of the present administration.
“This is aimed at assisting not only in the war against terrorism but to provide a special class of professionally trained AVSEC unit through the training of 30 selected aviation security master trainers who will in turn train others.
” Sirika also said the certifi cation of FAAN training centre by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would further strengthen and boost the capacity and technical knowhow of aviation security personnel in the country.
In his good will message, the managing director of FAAN, Mr.
Saleh Dunoma, said the agency had invested in aviation to create enabling environment that would encourage efficiency in tackling emerging security threats to civil aviation.
Dunoma also said FAAN had successfully recruited and trained over 230 AVSEC offi cers adding that the agency was poised to equip the AVSEC directorate to enable it discharge its responsibility effectively and efficiently.

 

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