Travellers passing by means of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport (each native and worldwide wings) in Abuja within the final 4 to 5 months would have seen some canine offering further safety at some key factors. They’re held by uniformed handlers and sniffing by means of travellers’ baggage, crates and cargoes for explosives, weapons, laborious medicine, meals, foreign money, endangered animal components and different contraband gadgets inimical to safety.
Traditionally, data have it that canine’ employment in safety lanes has been on a pointy rise since 1974 when a NYPD-owned German Shepherd managed to smell out a bomb that had been stowed inside an plane at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, in the end averting catastrophe. Their service ramped up after 9/11.
That is the primary time I’ve seen specialised canine deployed in any Nigerian airport. This can be a good improvement in our safety structure as they’re cost-effective approach of detecting safety threats. It’s time this improvement is put within the highlight as a result of canine are rather more dependable than even right this moment’s superior know-how for detecting the chemical compounds in explosives, felony tendencies and unlawful medicine.
These canine or canines (K9) are endowed with a excessive sense of scent (30 to 40 instances higher than that of people) not solely to establish a good friend or enemy, criminals, tracks and stolen property however extra particularly of their uncanny sense of safety and talent to detect hidden supplies and potential ailments which are banned in most international locations to go by means of the borders.
So putting this sort of safety will go a good distance in defending not solely the travellers but additionally airport employees, airline crews and Nigeria at massive by guaranteeing that no explosive supplies are current on plane or in our airports.
To be particular, I noticed how the canine sniffed the air currents surrounding travellers and their belongings as they handed by means of the Departures and the 2 gates resulting in the Apron in an effort to detect anybody who could also be carrying explosives and cargo containing one. I may say in such a approach, that the canine groups help with the effectivity and effectiveness of the airport’s screening operations.
There was one event I noticed the canine suspecting a bag and the handlers and the airport officers needed to transfer the bag right into a search room for additional scrutiny, although I have no idea the result of the search. Certainly, this deployment and observe is in tandem with worldwide greatest practices.
I’m excited that these specialised canine have been launched in a minimum of one airport within the nation, as it’ll improve its rankings and certification by the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA) and the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO).
The intractable safety threats we now have witnessed in Nigeria are telling us that further safety at delicate public locations like airports can’t be discounted, and we can not rely fully on human beings to safeguard each layer, construction or technique of safety and security, particularly in delicate locations just like the airports and their environment.
Like related modifications or improvements in Nigeria, I’m very positive that the deployment of canine would face some challenges. A good friend of mine informed me what he noticed of how two travellers behaved in his presence, possibly out of worry. I additionally heard some passengers didn’t need to be searched by canine throughout VIP protocols, particularly on the native wing of the airport. Nonetheless, the additional safety supplied by the canine will go a good distance in offering security and peace of thoughts to travellers.
So, it’s on this context, that public consideration must be drawn to the brand new improvement on the airport. The authorities, just like the FAAN, ought to work with the mainstream media and social media to sensitise the general public that after they journey by means of the airport, specialised canine will scent them and their baggage dealt with by a canine crew skilled in cultural/non secular norms.
Because of the sensitivity of the system, there’s a want to teach and cut back public anxiousness that the sniffer canine don’t contact individuals however sniff baggage and gadgets. If they’re carrying items on them, they will place the gadgets on the ground for inspection. However let Nigerians remember that canine at the moment are essential members of Abuja Airport’s safety ecosystem. Whereas it is very important commend the Nigerian authorities for this intervention, there are extra enhancements anticipated from the authorities.
Because of the nature and traits of their operational safety, there are different areas of the airport I would love the canine to be prolonged to such because the Arrivals, cargo part, automobile parks, navigation amenities, unattended automobiles and unattended gadgets/luggage, and plane sections of the airport. They will additionally conduct random proactive patrols across the airport atmosphere, at check-in counters, screening factors, and gate lounges. Different worldwide airports that deal with massive numbers of passengers just like the Murtala Mohammed Worldwide Airport in Ikeja, Port Harcourt Worldwide Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano Worldwide Airport in Kano and Akanu Ibiam Worldwide Airport in Enugu are in want of this further safety.
The topmost necessity on this further safety is the ever-busy Murtala Mohammed Worldwide, which is the flagship border (ports of entry and exit) of the nation that handles the very best variety of passengers and cargoes. It shouldn’t be assumed that since Nigeria has not witnessed severe terrorist mishaps in and round its airports, then there is no such thing as a want for further safety assisted by canine. However there’s a formidable risk to our borders by perpetrators of nefarious actions corresponding to non-state actors and different criminals. ‘
Dr Babatunde is a peacebuilder and safety analyst; wrote by way of [email protected]