The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has inaugurated the Security Sub-Committee for movement of passengers between Abuja and Kaduna during the six-weeks closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Sirika, while inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Abuja, tasked the members on adequate security of passengers and cargo during the period.
He said the composition of the committee was necessitated by the fact that the expected volume of traffic in Abuja airport would be diverted to Kaduna during the period.
The minister urged the committee to ensure that security should be water tight for the massive movement of passengers, cargoes and other logistics to and from Kaduna.
According to him, the action is a testimony to our resolve to strengthen safety and security of our airspace which is a primary function of government.
“Safeguarding lives and property of our citizens is a constitutional responsibility of the government of which we have not been found wanting.
“The major function of this important committee as it were is to provide security at the Abuja and Kaduna airports including air and rail transportation and of course, on the road.
“It is to also monitor traffic movement from Abuja to Kaduna airport and vice versa inclusive of the road that links the two junctions in Kaduna up to the airport.
“Your task is to be proactive and deal with any security challenge,” he said.
The committee, according to Sirika, will be Chaired by Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Federal Operations, Alkali Usman, while Director Technical and Safety, Ministry of Transportation, Talba Alkali, serves as the secretary.
The members also include Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA); Office of the Minister of State for Aviation; Department of State Security Services (DSS) and Nigerian Air Force.
Others are, the Nigerian Army; Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC); Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Nigeria Immigration Service and Aviation Security of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (AVSEC).
Also on the committee are, the Department of Air Transportation of the Ministry; the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Chairman of the Committee, AIG Alkali, assured the minister of their readiness to providing security to passengers and cargo during and after the period.
He said the combined security team would ensure that the operation during the six weeks period was successfully done.
The AIG said the joint team had already started by providing security for those repairing the road and was making adequate plan to effectively man the road, railway and air surveillance.
Alkali, however, called on the minister to ensure that the government provided adequate logistics for smooth operation during the period.