FAAN admits inadequate security measures in multi level car park at MMIA

…Says  efforts are on to address short fall

The management of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria( FAAN) has agreed that the though the security measures in place at the multi level car park managed by one of its concessionaires, Seymour Nigeria Limited  at Murtala Muhammed  International Airport, Lagos, was not adequate; it has however promised to improve on the security measures within the facility.

FAAN, in a statement,  by its spokesperson Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said the carpark is safe for travelers and their vehicles but new security measures have been put in place.

“Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to state that the car park facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, being managed by Messrs Seymour Nigeria Limited is safe for travellers and vehicles, as additional security measures have been put in place to forestall the re-occurrence of such act,” FAAN confirmed

The Airport Authority which didn’t denied the allegations of vandalisation of vehicles parked within the facility, however confirmed further that the incident which it described as isolated case is getting through attention.

“The unfortunate incident, which has been thoroughly reviewed and addressed, is an isolated case in the history of the management of the facility,” it added.

Furthermore, FAAN stated that  its management has reached out to the victim of the security breach in the facility even as it appealed to users of the multi level car park that their security and those of their properties shall be adequately taken care of.

FAAN said: “While we have reached out to the victim of the incident, we will like to assure our esteemed customers that the airport, as well as its parking facility is safe and secure.”
Meanwhile our correspondent who visited the facility today reported that people of questionable mission were  still seen hanging around on every floor of the facility without anyone querying their mission.

Our correspondent who also observed that there were no functional CCTV cameras within the facility reported that members of staff of the Seymour Nigeria Limited also complained on the focus of the managemen of the facility

The workers who spoke with our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said, the management of the multi level car park facility is more concerned about revenue collection than security of the entire building. They  insisted that there is the need to focus more attention improved security in the facility.

“When I came in here newly, we used to have security personnel outsourced from a private security outfit. They carried out  thorough surveillance and monitoring on every part of the building from the gate to the last floor. Some of them were in uniforms and mufti.

“They were regularly patrolling the floors and when  they noticed that someone or a group of persons is staying too long around a vehicle, the would approach and interrogate the persons to know their mission.  But now, all those measures have been relaxed.”

Another employee of the operator of the multi level car park facility complained that pilferings have been going on in the facility because  of the manner people get in and out there without control.

“We, workers here  are also victims of the pilferings too.  Some of my colleagues who left their handsets  and chargers on the sockets to charge sometimes found them missing. It was not like that about three years ago. This is because the security measures have been relaxed.  Anyone comes and goes out of here without adequate profiling,” the employee complained.

Yet another worker in the facility said; “The management is interested  more in the number of vehicles parked in and on which revenue are collected.

“You can see our staff with gadgets out there looking for vehicles to clamp down and bring in here for failure to park in the facility.”

When African Business Travel News (ABTN) contacted  the Managing Director of Seymour Nigeria Limited, Mr Francis Ikenga, he simply said, “That’s the nature of our business.”

A text message he forward to ABTN indicated that while some users commend the management of  the facility for good and efficient service delivery, others will still have one reason to condemn the management on service rendered.

The message reads:

“My name is odebisi abubakar
On the 20th of December I came to Nigeria with my family and unfortunately I lost a bag at the parking lot of Seymour Aviation Ltd. At a time all hope on getting the lost bag was gone which contained eighteen [18] phones and one new laptop but I decided to report it at the reception of the parking hall as my last resort and I was so happy with their professionalism and attentiveness in getting back the lost bag
All items in the bag was acounted for so I want to say a big thank you to both the management and staff of Seymour Aviation Ltd.