•Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reassured Nigerians that the recent security breach around Akure Airport was not a deliberate attack on aviation infrastructure, stressing that neither the airport nor passengers were the intended targets of the incident.
Speaking during an interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, the minister explained that the situation was an external security occurrence that spilled into airport premises rather than a coordinated attempt to compromise aviation safety.
The incident had earlier generated public concern following conflicting reports from security agencies regarding suspected criminals reportedly sighted near the airport perimeter.
Earlier yesterday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) disclosed that four suspected bandits were arrested around the airport after a joint security operation was launched in response to distress alerts over suspicious movements near the facility’s perimeter.
However, the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State later dismissed the claim as misleading.
According to a statement issued by the police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, no arrests were made within the airport environment.
Instead, the police said two suspected logistics suppliers aiding kidnappers were apprehended along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis outside the airport vicinity.
Addressing the contradictory reports, Keyamo explained that such discrepancies are not unusual when information is relayed through multiple layers of government bureaucracy.
According to him, officials in headquarters offices in cities such as Lagos or Abuja often rely on field reports from personnel on the ground, which may sometimes contain incomplete or evolving details during fast-moving situations.
“Sometimes when people sit in Lagos or Abuja and rely on information from their lieutenants on the ground, discrepancies can arise because they are not physically present at the scene,” the minister noted.
Keyamo emphasised that all preliminary accounts available to the ministry indicate that the airport itself was never the intended target of the individuals involved in the incident.
He explained that available reports suggest that individuals believed to be fleeing from a separate security situation — possibly involving kidnappers or bandits — entered the airport premises while attempting to escape from elsewhere.
“The airport was not a target. Let us be very clear about that. Passengers were not the target,” he said, urging the public to avoid panic and maintain confidence in the country’s aviation security system.
The minister noted that distinguishing between an external security situation and a direct threat to aviation infrastructure is crucial to preventing unnecessary alarm.
Keyamo also revealed that the intrusion occurred through a vulnerable portion of the airport’s perimeter fence.
According to him, the porous section of fencing at the rear of the facility provided an access point through which the individuals gained entry.
He described the situation as a reminder of the infrastructural challenges affecting several airports nationwide, particularly ageing perimeter security systems that require significant investment to upgrade.
“These are part of the infrastructure we are trying to rebuild across the country, but it requires substantial funding and time,” the minister said.
He added that authorities are already working to mobilise resources to repair and reinforce the affected sections of the airport fence in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The minister disclosed that he has directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident involving all relevant aviation and security agencies.
These include the aviation security department and other agencies operating at the airport, such as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, which maintain operational presence at major airports.
According to Keyamo, reports are currently being collated from different agencies to establish the true sequence of events and determine whether any lapses occurred in surveillance, coordination or reporting.
He stated that aviation security officials have been instructed to liaise with law enforcement authorities to reconcile the differing accounts issued earlier.
“If there were lapses in duty or failures in surveillance or reporting, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken,” he warned.
Bureaucratic Reporting Challenges
The minister also highlighted the broader bureaucratic reporting structures within government institutions, noting that information in public institutions often passes through several administrative layers before reaching decision-makers.
Unlike in the private sector, where reports can be transmitted directly between responsible officials, he explained that government reporting systems often require sequential approvals and commentary from multiple offices.
This process, he said, can sometimes slow down information flow and create inconsistencies in public communication during emergencies.
Nevertheless, Keyamo said efforts are underway within the aviation sector to streamline reporting systems to ensure faster and more reliable information sharing during critical incidents.
Reassurance on Passenger Safety
Despite the confusion surrounding the Akure incident, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining high safety standards across Nigeria’s airports.
He stressed that strengthening perimeter security, improving surveillance systems and upgrading airport infrastructure remain key priorities of the Federal Government’s aviation reform agenda.
Keyamo therefore urged Nigerians to remain confident in the country’s aviation system, noting that the incident in Ondo State was an isolated occurrence rather than evidence of a systemic failure.
According to him, lessons learned from the breach will inform ongoing efforts to reinforce security frameworks across airports nationwide, ensuring that facilities remain safe for passengers, airline operators and aviation personnel.
