Reps Raise The Alarm On Insecurity, Cattle Invasion At Kaduna Airport

The House of Representatives yesterday alleged collapse of security that is likely to arise from inadequate ramp markings, poor fuelling and cattle intrusion into the Kaduna airport.

The allegation followed a motion by Adeyinka Ajayi, Osun Central Federal Constituency II (Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin), Osun State, which drew the lawmakers’ attention to ‘safety concerns around aviation activities at the Kaduna International Airport.’

He told the House that if not checked, along with the congestion of the airport by air travellers, the Federal Government might lose its International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) licence.

Ajayi said the ramp markings at the airport were inadequate, while the few available ones were being violated by unauthorised users who go right through the marks in violation of international accepted standards relating to airport safety regulations.

To this end, the House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, urged the Committee on Aviation to receive and review the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) audit report prepared by its Directorate of Aerodrome Standards to ascertain that industry acceptable standards of ramp safety are being complied with at the Kaduna International Airport and report back to the House within one week.

Meanwhile, the House Ad-hoc Committee on Review of Petroleum Products Pricing yesterday urged the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Comptroller-General of Immigration to immediately determine the whereabouts of one Mr. Andrew Alagu, Managing Director of HAR Petroleum Resources Ltd.

Alagu was declared wanted by the committee for alleged fraudulent sourcing and receipt of foreign exchange, amounting to $26 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)‎ ‎with a view to importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country under the DSDP programme of the Federal Government.‎

Chairman of the committee, Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe (PDP, Imo), made the declaration following denial by the company via a letter that it did not engage in product importation at any time and therefore could not have sourced for and accessed forex from the CBN.

The firm’s representative at the hearing, Jefferson Ogunma, told the committee that the company he was representing only handled logistical activities on behalf of Total Nigeria Plc.

In another development, the House yesterday stepped down a bill seeking to prohibit and punish sex offenders in educational institutions.

According to the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who expressed concern that the bill did not cover other sectors of the society, said it ought to accommodate other institutions such as the work places and religious settings.

The Speaker, therefore, agreed with the submissions and stepped down the bill pending consultations between both chambers of the National Assembly.

Source: Guardian