Unknown individuals have taken the recently replaced airfield lighting systems at the domestic runway 18/36L at Murtala Muhammad Airport.
According to reports, the incident caused a stir and sparked security worries in Nigeria’s largest airports.
According to a source, those responsible for the crime colluded with several FAAN officials and almost all of the illumination was taken.
The insider, who requested anonymity, claimed that individuals who stole the lighting equipment profited from the runway’s closure for more than three months.
“The criminal took advantage of the closure to commit the crime. I cannot give the actual worth of the theft, but almost all the lighting was removed. The permanent secretary came around to see for himself the huge damage done. A lot of FAAN officials have been suspended,” Punch quoted the source confirmed.
According to reports, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, ordered the suspension of various FAAN department heads due to missing lighting equipment.
The source also disclosed that investigations had since commenced to unravel those responsible for the missing safety equipment.
The frequent invasion and stealing of safety components at the airports are carried out by a syndicate, consisting of some workers of the agencies, who have access to the restricted areas and accomplices from outside, the source asserted.
