A top Nigerian aviation official has asked cargo handlers at the nation’s airports to be more security and safety conscious to prevent terrorists from infiltrating their ranks.
Speaking at the air cargo security and safety meeting in Lagos Wednesday, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) , Dr Harold Demuren, described air cargo operations as one of the most vulnerable aspects of aviation
”Terrorists could plant parcels with explosives in the cargoes, go away from the aircraft only for the aircraft transporting such cargoes to explode during flight operations.
”It is worthy to know that the volume of cargo being carried on passengers’ aircraft has increased tremendously and this is giving all stakeholders much more concern about the security and safety,” he said.
The NCAA boss said the terrorists are changing their tactics by targetting cargo as some of them demonstrated this when they attempted cargo sabotage that originated from Yemen in October 2010 .
Dr. Demuren, who was represented by an official of the NCAA, Dr. Teresa Bassey, said that authority has installed security counter measures at the nation’s airports that are making it more difficult for terrorists to access the aircraft transporting cargoes and passengers.
The meting was attended by aviation experts, aviation correspondents, airline operators and ground handling firms.
