Airport Security Upgrade To Gulp N20bn

COMPTROLLER-General of the Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), has disclosed that about N20 billion would be required to upgrade security equipment in all international airports around the country in order to meet up with the conventional standard and best practices across the globe.

 

Ali disclosed this during his inspection tour on security equipments at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in company of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

“Most of the equipment are out of date and do not meet the present situation, hence the need for the review of the whole system and we are not looking at one airport, but our international airports. The moment we can make a seamless operation for traders and passengers they would want to use our own airports in the transaction of their businesses. This would enhance trade facilitation and in turn increase revenue generation,” Ali said.

The Minister also commended the services obtainable at the airport as of present and hoped that purchasing the needed equipment would increase efficiency which would in turn spur revenue collection for the nation.

“The equipment we have are quite inefficient and we have to improve upon them. For instance, containers in the port will be cleared quickly. The customs as we know is a revenue generating and security agency and we really need to look at their operation and assess their need for new equipment, particularly for new technology in the form of scanners that would enhance their ability to do their job efficiently,” Adeosun said.