In a shocking incident at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Nigeria, thieves breached security measures and stole valuable lighting components worth millions of Naira.
The theft took place on the domestic runway 18 Runway/36 Left, just nine months after the airfield lighting systems were reinstalled. The criminals used the runway’s closure for over three months to commit this audacious act.
According to insider information, the thieves consisted of workers from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and external individuals who had access to the runway site. The theft was facilitated by the temporary runway closure, which allowed criminals to operate without detection.
The exact value of the stolen lighting components is unknown, but nearly all of the lighting was removed. The severity of the incident prompted the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, to order the suspension of several heads of relevant departments at FAAN.
Dr. Meribole personally inspected the site and initiated an investigation to identify those responsible for this alarming security breach. The incident has sparked outrage among FAAN officials and key stakeholders in the aviation sector. It once again highlights the vulnerability of the airport environment, where unauthorised individuals can easily access restricted areas.
The successful removal of the large lighting components without detection was made possible by the collaboration of insider workers and the dense forest surrounding the airport. The forest provides cover for criminals to hide until opportune moments arise to execute their unlawful activities.
This recent theft of safety equipment is not an isolated incident at Lagos Airport. Similar security breaches have been reported in the past. In a previous case, workers from a sister agency of FAAN were caught and suspended for stealing navigational equipment from the airside.
According to sources familiar with the matter, these security breaches are the result of a syndicate consisting of agency employees with access to restricted areas and external accomplices. Despite security vehicle patrols around the airside, perpetrators use dense forest cover to evade detection.
The domestic runway 18 left at Lagos Airport was closed for night operations for 15 years due to the absence of airfield lighting. This imposed significant financial strain on domestic airlines, as they were forced to use the longer runway 19 at the international airport. This led to increased aviation fuel consumption.
Finally, in November 2022, the airfield lighting system worth millions of Naira was reinstalled, relieving domestic airlines. However, the recent theft raises concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at Murtala Muhammed Airport. It highlights the need for urgent action to prevent future security breaches.
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