According to information obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, the whole lighting system on the runway has been inexplicably hauled away nine months after the Murtala Muhamed Airport’s domestic runway 18 Runway/36Left’s multi-million Naira airfield lighting equipment were restored.
At the busiest gateway airport, the thieves allegedly took advantage of the runway’s closure for more than three months to commit the risky crimes.
A source claims that several employees of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) carted off the airfield lighting parts with the assistance of some visitors who had access to the runway site.
“In order to carry out the act, the criminal took advantage of the shutdown. Although practically all of the lighting was taken, I am unable to estimate how much was taken. The Permanent Secretary arrived to witness the significant harm firsthand. The source reported that numerous FAAN officials had been suspended.
Following the controversy, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, issued directions after seeing the damaged site that some heads of pertinent departments within the organization be suspended. Investigative work has since started to identify the individuals who stole the safety gear.
Once again, the porosity of the airport environment, where many unwanted elements may readily access the restricted areas of the airport, has been blamed for the theft of the components, which has incited fury among important actors in both FAAN and the sector in general.
The ability of the thieves to easily remove the large components away from the restricted airside undetected has been attributed to sabotage by some Authority employees. The thick forest surrounding the airport has also been blamed, as it makes it simpler for such undesirable elements to hide behind cover until convenient opportunity comes for them to achieve their goals.
The latest loss of safety equipment at the Lagos airport was not, according to the information amassed, the first incidence to occur there; the airport has previously seen similar security breaches.
A similar occurrence happened not long ago when certain employees from an FAAN sibling organization were caught and suspended for their roles in the theft of some navigational equipment at the airside.
According to a source who confirmed the most recent occurrence to the Nigerian Tribune, a syndicate made up of some agency employees with access to the restricted areas and collaborators from outside often enters and steals safety components from airports.
Despite the frequent patrols of security vehicles around the airside, unwanted individuals have developed the habit of hiding behind the dense woodlands when they see a security van approaching.
Due to a lack of airfield lighting, the domestic runway 18Left at Lagos International Airport was closed to night operations for 15 years. This forced domestic airlines to use the international runway 19, which required more fuel due to its greater distance.
Finally, in November 2022, the expensive airfield was installed again.
