The ASRTI/ART supports the federal government’s approval of providing firearms to AVSEC officials as it is expected to enhance our national civil aviation security program (NCASP).

The primary objective of AVSEC is the protection and safety of passengers, crew, ground personnel, aircraft and facilities serving civil aviation against the act of unlawful interference in sterile areas of airports, therefore, the participation of other security agencies is inevitable in the airport security network.

Consequent to this approval we strongly advise a review of the airport security architecture to cover elements of the various security agencies which will now form the new organogram.

This will eliminate inter-agency rivalry, foster cooperation, provide common platform to assess measure of effectiveness, process operational effectiveness and after-action plans.

Please note that they administratively remain under their parent agencies but under the operational command and control of the new Airport Security Architecture.

Furthermore, ART as a body will advise that selected men to bear arms be properly trained and tested in rudiment areas of arms handling, standing armoury and trained armourer for safe-keeping of ammunitions while necessary procedure for issuance, retrieval and accountability of expended rounds if necessary be put in place.

In the 90s we delegated and rotated the heads of security agencies serving in the airports to supervise and control night operations which are akin to the United States TSA model.

Security threats have evolved we as a nation are challenged to find the nexus and best-fit security architecture as our security challenges cannot be the same with other nations,

Therefore, we cannot lift models hook line and sinker.

Dr. Gabriel O. Olowo FNIM, FITP