Theft of Lagos Airport Runway Lights Leads to Suspension of Seven Individuals

Theft of Runway Lighting Systems at Lagos Airport Raises Security Concerns, Leads to Seven Suspensions

11th July 2023

Unknown individuals have reportedly stolen the recently reinstalled airfield lighting systems from the domestic runway 18/36L of Murtala Muhammad Airport. The disappearance of the approach lighting systems has caused significant security concerns in Nigeria’s busiest airports.

According to an anonymous source, the culprits took advantage of the runway’s closure for over three months to carry out the theft. The source alleged that some employees of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) collaborated with outsiders in stealing the airport lighting equipment.

“The criminals took advantage of the closure to commit the crime. Although I can’t provide the exact value of the theft, almost all the lighting was removed. The permanent secretary personally witnessed the extensive damage. As a result, numerous FAAN officials have been suspended,” confirmed the source.

The missing lighting equipment has prompted the suspension of several heads of relevant departments at FAAN, following the directives of Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation. Furthermore, investigations have been initiated to identify those responsible for the theft of the crucial safety equipment.

According to the source, these recurring incidents of incursion and theft of safety components at airports are orchestrated by a syndicate involving some agency workers who have access to restricted areas, along with external accomplices.

Expressing his discontent, an unnamed high-ranking FAAN official mentioned that Mr. Kabir Yusuf, the Managing Director of FAAN, was displeased with the situation. In response to the ongoing investigation, the official affirmed that security personnel responsible for guarding critical airport facilities have also been suspended as directed by the FAAN MD.

Former Military Commandant at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (retd.), commented on the matter, citing past incidents in the airport’s history. He proposed stricter measures, including positioning soldiers on the runways and requiring his approval for any FAAN maintenance staff to approach the runways, in order to prevent similar thefts. He also noted that stolen lighting equipment had been sold to FAAN by the same workers, leading him to oppose unions staging protests in the airport’s security-controlled areas.

Mr. Yakubu Funtua, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, assured that thorough investigations are underway, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to preventing such incidents from recurring. He highlighted the presence of multiple agencies responsible for airport security and stated that attributing the theft solely to FAAN staff would be unfair. Funtua emphasized that FAAN relies heavily on revenue from Lagos and affirmed the agency’s determination to recover the stolen equipment and address any existing loopholes.

• The domestic runway 18L at Lagos Airport was previously closed for night operations for 15 years due to the absence of airfield lighting. Domestic airlines were compelled to utilize runway 19 at the international airport, resulting in increased fuel consumption due to the longer distance. The recently installed equipment, enabling nighttime operations at the domestic airport, was put in place on the 2.7-kilometer runway in November of last year.