The Department of State Services, DSS has commenced the screening of about 100 qualified Aviation Security personnel who are to bear arms at airports as the Federal Government finalises moves to deploy armed AVSEC officers.

It was also gathered that shooting ranges for the AVSEC officers had been 80 per cent completed at the Lagos and Abuja airports, while the armory was also being worked on currently.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had announced in March 2018 that aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria would be licensed to carry arms at airports, following the approval granted by the Federal Government.

Senior officials at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and FAAN told our correspondent on Monday in Abuja that the arming of AVSEC officers was a presidential directive and that the process was in its final stages.

“We started in phases and we’ve gone far with the screening of qualified officers by the Department of State Security. They (DSS) are assisting us. They are evaluating the psychological aspect, medical angle, vetting of those who should carry arms, etc,” a senior official at the FMA, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said.

The source added, “We are looking at these things critically. Also, on training we want to make it first, second and third lines of trainings until we are very sure that the officer is confident and would act as a professional.”

In October, the Managing Director, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, and the Director, Aviation Security Services, Group Capt. Usman Sadiq, confirmed that the process for arming AVSEC officers was at a very advanced stage.

Also last month, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, said the authority just completed the training of 121 aviation security officers, although she did not state if the personnel were screened by the DSS.

But the aviation ministry official confirmed that most of the AVSEC officers were being screened by the DSS to bear arms and that this would enhance safety in delicate areas at airports.

“It will boost the confidence of AVSEC personnel to go to dangerous areas that we consider as threats at times. So we are taking our time and it has gone really far,” the official stated.

The source added, “It has been approved, the shooting range we are building is about 80 per cent completed in two areas. The one to be taking care of our staff in the Southern part is located in Lagos and the second one is situated here in Abuja.

“It is for the training and other activities. Also the armories too, where we will put the arms must be available and that is why you see the delay. This is the last phase that we have to do, bringing in the arms.”

On why it was important to have armed aviation personnel despite the presence of other armed security agencies at airports, a senior official at FAAN said AVSEC officers would be permanent at airports unlike those from the other agencies.

The source said, “Right now, it is not that we don’t have people covering the airports with arms. We have the support of the air force, army, police, the DSS and civil defence. But the difference is that they come and go.

“Sometimes after induction for about three months you will notice that they have been posted out and we will have to start afresh. But if we have people who are consistent and always available, it will be better. So when officers from the other agencies leave, we will cover the gap.”

The official further explained that aviation security personnel would have access to areas where officers from other agencies would not.

“Armed aviation security personnel take care of the airports. In fact, if you go to some European nations you will see them moving within the terminals,” the source stated.

The official added, “But we want to be discreet and professional in our own and you must be an expert who can pick a finger from far. It is not about just shooting. The emphasis is more at the air-side and the perimeters where people either encroach or jump our fence.”