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Travellers passing by means of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport (each native and worldwide wings) in Abuja within the final 4 to 5 months would have seen some canine offering additional safety at some key factors. They’re held by uniformed handlers and sniffing by means of travellers’ baggage, crates and cargoes for explosives, weapons, exhausting medicine, meals, foreign money, endangered animal components and different contraband gadgets inimical to safety.
Traditionally, information have it that canine’ employment in safety lanes has been on a pointy rise since 1974 when a NYPD-owned German Shepherd managed to smell out a bomb that had been stowed inside an plane at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, finally averting catastrophe. Their service ramped up after 9/11.
That is the primary time I’ve seen specialised canine deployed in any Nigerian airport. This can be a good growth in our safety structure as they’re cost-effective method of detecting safety threats. It’s time this growth is put within the highlight as a result of canine are far more dependable than even in the present day’s superior expertise for detecting the chemical substances in explosives, legal tendencies and unlawful medicine.
These canine or canines (K9) are endowed with a excessive sense of scent (30 to 40 occasions higher than that of people) not solely to determine a buddy or enemy, criminals, tracks and stolen property however extra particularly of their uncanny sense of safety and talent to detect hidden supplies and potential illnesses which are banned in most nations to cross by means of the borders.
So inserting this type of safety will go a good distance in defending not solely the travellers but additionally airport employees, airline crews and Nigeria at massive by guaranteeing that no explosive supplies are current on plane or in our airports.
To be particular, I noticed how the canine sniffed the air currents surrounding travellers and their belongings as they handed by means of the Departures and the 2 gates resulting in the Apron in an effort to detect anybody who could also be carrying explosives and cargo containing one. I might say in such a method, that the canine groups help with the effectivity and effectiveness of the airport’s screening operations.
There was one event I noticed the canine suspecting a bag and the handlers and the airport officers needed to transfer the bag right into a search room for additional scrutiny, although I have no idea the result of the search. Certainly, this deployment and follow is in tandem with worldwide finest practices.
I’m excited that these specialised canine have been launched in a minimum of one airport within the nation, as it can improve its rankings and certification by the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA) and the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO).
The intractable safety threats we’ve witnessed in Nigeria are telling us that additional safety at delicate public locations like airports can’t be discounted, and we can’t rely utterly on human beings to safeguard each layer, construction or means of safety and security, particularly in delicate locations just like the airports and their environment.
Like related modifications or improvements in Nigeria, I’m very positive that the deployment of canine would face some challenges. A buddy of mine informed me what he noticed of how two travellers behaved in his presence, perhaps out of worry. I additionally heard some passengers didn’t wish to be searched by canine throughout VIP protocols, particularly on the native wing of the airport. However, the additional safety supplied by the canine will go a good distance in offering security and peace of thoughts to travellers.
So, it’s on this context, that public consideration ought to be drawn to the brand new growth on the airport. The authorities, just like the FAAN, ought to work with the mainstream media and social media to sensitise the general public that once they journey by means of the airport, specialised canine will scent them and their baggage dealt with by a canine group educated in cultural/spiritual norms.
As a result of sensitivity of the system, there’s a want to coach and scale back public nervousness that the sniffer canine don’t contact folks however sniff baggage and gadgets. If they’re carrying items on them, they’ll place the gadgets on the ground for inspection. However let Nigerians bear in mind that canine are actually essential members of Abuja Airport’s safety ecosystem. Whereas you will need to commend the Nigerian authorities for this intervention, there are extra enhancements anticipated from the authorities.
As a result of nature and traits of their operational safety, there are different areas of the airport I would love the canine to be prolonged to such because the Arrivals, cargo part, automotive parks, navigation services, unattended vehicles and unattended gadgets/baggage, and plane sections of the airport. They’ll additionally conduct random proactive patrols across the airport setting, at check-in counters, screening factors, and gate lounges. Different worldwide airports that deal with massive numbers of passengers just like the Murtala Mohammed Worldwide Airport in Ikeja, Port Harcourt Worldwide Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano Worldwide Airport in Kano and Akanu Ibiam Worldwide Airport in Enugu are in want of this additional safety.
The topmost necessity on this additional safety is the ever-busy Murtala Mohammed Worldwide, which is the flagship border (ports of entry and exit) of the nation that handles the best variety of passengers and cargoes. It shouldn’t be assumed that since Nigeria has not witnessed severe terrorist mishaps in and round its airports, then there isn’t any want for additional safety assisted by canine. However there’s a formidable menace to our borders by perpetrators of nefarious actions corresponding to non-state actors and different criminals. ‘
Dr Babatunde is a peacebuilder and safety analyst; wrote through [email protected]
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