The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria approved the allocation of N3.23 billion for the acquisition of baggage scanners in five international airports, including Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Port-Harcourt, and Kano. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced the decision after the FEC meeting in Abuja.
He highlighted the inconvenience faced by passengers during physical bag searches at airports and proposed the introduction of detection machines similar to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) system in the United States.
The contract approval is for the supply and installation of customized explosive and narcotic detection screening systems at the specified international airports.
The total cost for these machines is N3.23 billion, according to Keyamo. Additionally, FEC approved a memo for a Bilateral Air Service Agreement with the Republic of Guyana. Regarding the suspended Nigeria Air project initiated by the previous administration, Keyamo explained that the plan to waive taxes for the proposed airline aimed at creating a monopoly and reducing airfares.
However, the current government decided not to continue the project, citing irregularities discovered by an investigative panel, which Keyamo promised to disclose in the future.