The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified that the recent security breach at Akure Airport in Ondo State did not constitute a targeted attack on the airport or its passengers.
Keyamo spoke on Tuesday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, amid growing public concern over airport safety.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, had initially prompted reports from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that four suspected bandits were apprehended near the airport following a security alert over unusual movements along the perimeter. However, the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State contradicted the report, stating that only two suspected logistics suppliers aiding kidnappers were arrested along Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo, and not within the airport premises.
Keyamo explained that the discrepancies in reporting stemmed from bureaucratic communication gaps rather than deliberate misinformation. He said individuals, suspected to be fleeing from a separate security situation involving bandits or kidnappers, exploited a weak section of the airport’s perimeter fence, unintentionally gaining access to the facility. “The airport was not a target. Passengers were not a target,” he stressed.
The minister attributed the breach to infrastructure gaps, particularly a porous segment of the fence at the rear of Akure Airport, noting that similar vulnerabilities exist across the nation’s airports. He added that efforts to upgrade and maintain these facilities require significant funding and time.
Keyamo disclosed that a comprehensive investigation involving all relevant aviation and security agencies has been ordered to determine the facts, identify lapses, and ensure accountability. He assured that disciplinary measures would be taken against personnel found negligent in their duties.
While acknowledging systemic delays caused by bureaucratic reporting structures, the minister urged Nigerians to remain confident in the safety of the aviation sector. He emphasized that the Ondo incident is an isolated case linked to external security challenges rather than a failure of Nigeria’s airport security architecture.
“The underlying issue is that the airport was not a target. Passengers were not a target of that intrusion,” he said, adding that lessons from the incident will guide reforms to strengthen surveillance and operational coordination across the nation’s airports.
