November 21st, 2006
‘Substance on Bellview plane is fire cracker’
The substances alleged by Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode to have been explosives were actually materials for fireworks, top security source has revealed.
Horatius Egua, Wale Haastrup & Isaac Aregbesola
A senior security operative who spoke with BusinessDay yesterday said the materials meant for the 10th anniversary of the Rochas Okorocha Foundation in Abuja.
The event, the source said, was organized by an event management firm, African Event.
The source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, "Security operatives found out that those materials were mere fireworks materials. When it was discovered, it became an embarrassment to all of us. It is quite unfortunate."
The source added that the government was finding a way of dousing the "tension the whole thing has generated" because "everybody is already scared. The Americans, the British and some countries in the European Union have already warned their citizens to beware of travelling by air in Nigeria".
He noted further that government had reached out to most of the diplomatic missions, embassies and relevant agencies in the country to brief them on the true situation of things regarding the ugly incident.
"I hope they believe us because it is a very embarrassing development. A thorough investigation should have been done before rushing to the press with such very sensitive things. Everybody is afraid to fly now," the source said.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the suspect was still with men of the Sate Security Services as at yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in all the airports in the country.
At both the local and international wings of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, passengers as well as their luggage were screened by staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Travellers interviewed by BusinessDay said they were in support of the security alert at the airport and that they would want the airports authority to extend same security awareness to other airports in the country.
They agreed that the increased security awareness was "for their own good" and urged the Federal Government to mount screening machines and metal detectors in other major airports.
Meanwhile, Fani-Kayode has promised to expedite action on the replacement of obsolete equipment at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja as recommended by the Paul Dike Presidential Committee on Aviation.
He warned that ministry and security officials who collude with any criminal would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The minister made this disclosure during an inspection tour of the airport, security screening machines, control tower, the baggage/luggage room and NIMET offices at the airport.
He was quoted as saying that availability of fund remained crucial to facilitate the replacement of obsolete equipment at the airport to ensure security and safety in our country’s airspace.
The minister, therefore, charged the security officials at the airport to brace up to the challenge of providing efficient and effective security for the safety of lives of air travellers.
http://www.businessdayonline.com