ROLE OF THE STATE SECURITY SERVICE IN ENSURINGAVIATION SECURITY AND SAFETY IN NIGERIA

- G.O. AGBAJE

Aviation security could be described as the totality of measures put in

place to protect aviation operations and facilities against acts that may

endanger safety and undermine the confidence of the flying public in air

transportation. The International Civil Aviation Organization

Regulations Annex 17 defines aviation security as a combination of

measures, human and material resources intended to safeguard

international civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference.

A holistic approach to aviation security would therefore include the

protection of Terminal Building including human and material assets, the

airside and the aircrafts while on the Tarmac and when in flight against any

act of unlawful interference. This approach would also take into

consideration the suitability of organizations and individuals working in the

Airport with a view to ensuring that their activities do not constitute a threat

to aviation security.

In ensuring the above, security programmes that conform with

International standards and recommendations are adopted. These

programmes could be classified under Preventive Security Measures and

management of response to acts of unlawful interference.

PREVENTIVE SECURITY MEASURES

Preventive Security measures include those relating to access control

such as the establishment of procedures and identification systems to

prevent unauthorized access by persons or vehicles to the airside of an

airport serving international civil aviation and other areas important to the

security of the Airport.

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It also entails measures relating to checked baggage, cargo and other

goods. This is to ensure that operators when providing service do not

transport the baggage of passengers who are not onboard the Aircraft,

unless the baggage separated from passengers is subjected to other security

control measures.

Security control/screening and surveillance activities which involve the

application of technical or other means which are designed to detect

weapons/explosives and other dangerous devices, the carriage or bearing of

which is not authorized and to prevent same from being utilized by any

means whatsoever onboard an aircraft. There are also preventive measures

that are taken to regulate the transfer and transit passengers and their cabin

baggage to prevent unauthorized articles from being taken onboard aircraft.

MANAGEMENT OF RESPONSE TO ACTS OF UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE

This is the operational aspects of acts of unlawful interference. It is the

aggregation of the actions taken to ensure the safety of passengers and

crews of an aircraft which has been subjected to acts of unlawful

interference such as hijack or terrorism or threat of sabotage. In extreme

cases of such unlawful seizure of an aircraft, the aircraft may need to be

detained on the ground unless its departure is necessitated by the overriding

duty to protect human life. Other aspects of aviation security and safety are

measures taken to prevent outbreak of fire or actions to mitigate its effects

in the airports in case of an occurrence. There are also the search and rescue

operations procedures in the event of air mishap. It is apposite to state that

in the strive to entrench functional Aviation Security and Safety, the

implementation of extant laws as stipulated by the ICAO Convention should

be the guiding principle.

AVIATION ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

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Like in other Nations of the world, aviation accidents and incidents

have been recorded in Nigeria since the advent of Air transportation. The

United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) classifies aviation

accident as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which

takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the

intention of flight and in which any person suffers death or serious injury or

in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. Such accidents may occur

as a result of human error (Pilot), weather related error or mechanical

problem. An aviation incident on the other hand, is an occurrence other than

an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or

could affect the safety of operations. This may manifest through criminal

activities such as hijacking, air piracy, sabotage or general acts of terrorism.

To reduce occurrence of aviation accidents and incidents, aircrafts are

designed to specifications while security measures are implemented with

commitment. Notwithstanding, failures are still being recorded.

From the Air disaster which was recorded in Nigeria in 1969 when a VC

10 Plane crashed at Iju in Lagos and killed all onboard, the country has

recorded such disasters in succession. As at 2005 and 2006 when Bellview,

ADC, Sosoliso and Dornier Aircrafts crashed, not less than 21 major accidents

had been recorded in the country. Also, an examination of statistics of

attacks on aviation worldwide (Centurion Aircrew Security Course 2002)

shows that not less than forty-six incidents would have been recorded. This

is starting with the first hijack in Arequipa, Peru on 21 February 1931 to the

hijack of Ethiopian Airline between Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa on 9 June

2002. The above occurrences eroded the confidence of the general public in

air transportation and created widespread panic.

Aviation security however became a major concern following the

September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The subsequent

International and Local Reforms in the aviation industry have strengthened

the sector as a major player in the socio-economic activities of the people.

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Today, flying remains an extremely safe form of transportation. As a matter

of fact, the relative rarity of incidents, coupled with the often dramatic

outcome is one of the reasons why air mishaps still make headlines.

ROLE OF THE STATE SECURITY SERVICE IN AVIATION SECURITY

MANAGEMENT

The security of every nation is dependent on the fulfillment of a variety

of essential security intelligence and law enforcement duties and

responsibilities. No single agency can successfully execute them without

establishing a synergy with the others. The SSS Instrument No 1 of May 1999

among other things, clearly defined some of the functions of the SSS, which

include among others, the prevention, detection and investigation of crimes

of national security dimensions as well as the preservation of Nigeria’s

internal security and economy against acts of subversion, sabotage and

other threats to the stability of Nigeria. Part of this, is the responsibility of

carrying out Travel Control duties at the Nation’s Ports be it land, sea or air.

Consequent on the legal provisions therefore, the SSS as a front line

organization in the Nation’s airport carries out the above stated proactive

and containment measures in collaboration with other relevant Security

Agencies and regulatory bodies, to ensure safety and security in the aviation

sector. The SSS also plays collaborative roles with the stakeholders in the

aviation sector to ensure the implementation of aviation laws and ensure

that operators carryout their responsibilities in compliance with extant laws.

To specifically appreciate the critical role of the State Security Service

in aviation security, one has to reconcile its statutory functions with

challenges posed by identified threats to the aviation sector. Any insecurity

to the aviation sector emanates from a number of sources and factors

including terrorism, fraud/corruption and structural weakness in

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administration of aviation safety, among others. The operations of the SSS at

the airports are designed to effectively curb the movement and presence of

subtle elements, which are dangerous to the safety of other citizens.

Furthermore, the SSS closely monitor and relatively carry out

enforcement actions on activities designed or unwittingly positioned to

undermine the effectiveness of agencies and standards deployed to ensure

aviation safety. In so doing, the Service continually disseminates critical

intelligence that bolsters the work various agencies playing critical role in

aviation security.

Besides the foregoing, it is noteworthy that the presence and

operations of the SSS at the airports reinforces the confidence of visiting

foreign investors and tourists on the country’s internal security.

The SSS is statutorily empowered to engage in various covert

operations that safeguard the interests of the Nigerian State including the

security of its aviation sector. The central focus of its operations in the

aviation sector, is to procure and timely disseminate accurate intelligence on

all identified threats that are strategic to the realization of aviation security

while conducting counter measures against such adverse tendencies as

terrorism and sabotage of critical aviation infrastructure among others.

However, the security aviation sector does not lie with the SSS alone.

Apart from the critical need for symbiotic relationship among key security

agencies at the nation’s airports, the greater need for effective utilization of

intelligence reports, is imperative always.

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