Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN says thermal and visual infrared camera surveillance systems have been acquired for effective security of the airfield and perimeter fences at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja.

The visual camera system is to cover from sunrise to sunset while the thermal from sunset to early morning and fully automated.

FAAN Managing Director, Captain Rabiu Yadudu stated this while answering questions from aviation reporters in Lagos on the recent mangled body found on the runway of the Lagos international airport two weeks ago.

He said the investigation into the mangled body found on the runway of the Lagos airport was still ongoing and commenting on the matter would amount to preempting the outcome of the investigation.

According to him, the agency was working to ensure that, the runways and other sensitive areas of the airport were adequately protected.

Captain Yadudu explained that the solution they had arrived at was the use of surveillance equipment, and infrared thermal cameras that would help to capture and track movements around the sensitive areas and the perimeter fences.

The FAAN boss stressed that the process of acquisition and procurement had been on and President Mohammadu Buhari approved the purchase in November last year, adding that, in a month or two, the equipment would arrive the country for installment.

“And we are buying not one but four of those cameras to cover the whole airfield and this is fully automated, it will be spanning 360 degrees if it detects any movement in the camera it will lock on to that movement, it is automatic until you disengage it to continue tracking, any movement it will lock and track that movement, that is the technology we are having, daylight and sunset,”Yadudu said.

He also disclosed that an order had been placed for two motorized thermal camera systems for deployment to any airports in the event of security challenges.

In the meantime, Captain Yadudu said, manual patrols have been stepped up by the airport team with the military, to ensure adequate security of the airfield.

Reporting by Nosa Aituamen; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino