The entire airfield lighting system at the domestic runway 18/36Left of Murtala Muhammed Airport, worth millions of Naira, has been mysteriously stolen nine months after its reinstallation. The criminals took advantage of the runway’s closure for over three months to carry out this audacious act at Nigeria’s primary gateway airport.
Sources reveal that workers from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in collaboration with external individuals who had access to the runway site, were involved in the theft of the airfield lighting components. The extent of the theft and the total value of the stolen equipment remain unclear, but the damage is substantial. In response, several heads of relevant departments within FAAN have been suspended, and investigations are underway to identify the culprits responsible for this act of theft.
The incident has sparked outrage among key stakeholders in the aviation sector and has once again highlighted the porous nature of the airport environment, allowing unauthorized individuals to access restricted areas easily. The ability of the thieves to remove the sizeable components unnoticed is believed to be a result of sabotage by some FAAN workers, coupled with the dense forest surrounding the airport, providing cover for such illicit activities.
This is not the first security breach at Lagos airport, as similar incidents have occurred in the past. The theft of safety equipment points to the existence of a syndicate involving agency workers with access to restricted areas and accomplices from outside. Despite regular security patrols, the perpetrators manage to hide in the thick forest until an opportune moment presents itself.
The absence of airfield lighting had previously forced domestic airlines to rely on the longer runway 19 at the international airport, leading to increased operational costs. After 15 years of non-operation, the airfield lighting system was finally reinstalled in November 2022, providing relief for the domestic airlines. However, this recent theft raises concerns about the overall security measures and protocols in place at the airport.