FAAN rebuts airport security claims, warns critics against outdated assumptions

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued a rebuttal to recent reports of airport vulnerabilities, characterising the commentary from prominent aviation experts as “sensational” and based on “outdated knowledge.”

In a statement, Henry Agbebire, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, addressed allegations of ‘porous’ borders and security gaps, arguing that while vigilance is paramount, the public discourse must be rooted in current operational realities rather than decades-old data.

At the heart of the dispute is the reliance on a 2004 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to justify claims of current vulnerability. Agbebire dismissed this approach as flawed, noting that aviation security is one of the most dynamic fields in global operations.

“To anchor present-day conclusions on assessments conducted over twenty years ago is to ignore the very nature of how aviation security evolves,” Agbebire stated. He emphasised that Nigeria has undergone numerous ICAO audit cycles and technological upgrades in the intervening two decades, driven by evolving threats and global standards.

The agency also challenged the tendency of commentators to focus on visible infrastructure, such as perimeter fencing, as the sole indicator of security. Agbebire argued that modern airport defense is a layered architecture—much of which is intentionally kept out of the public eye.

“Security is not a spectacle; it is a system,” Agbebire noted. “The absence of publicly available details is not evidence of inaction; it is a fundamental principle of security management.”

A significant portion of the rebuttal touched on the ‘currency of knowledge. ‘ FAAN pointed out that critics who are no longer embedded within the current operational or intelligence frameworks of the agency may be misinterpreting the lack of visible activity as a lack of readiness.

More critically, the agency warned that ‘alarmist’ commentary does more than just critique—it potentially invites the very risks it seeks to prevent. By shaping a global perception of vulnerability, such narratives can undermine investor sentiment and, in the worst-case scenario, provide hostile actors with a “reinforced perception of opportunity.”

While welcoming constructive critique, FAAN urged industry experts to seek updated information and engage with relevant authorities before making sweeping generalisations.

“What is required at this moment is not alarm, but alignment,” the statement concluded, reaffirming that Nigeria’s aviation sector remains in line with global best practices through continuous, deliberate, and often discreet efforts.