The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified that the recent security breach at Akure Airport in Ondo State did not involve a direct attack on aviation infrastructure, stating that the facility was never the intended target of the intrusion.
He made the clarification during an interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Tuesday, where he addressed growing public concerns over safety within Nigeria’s airport system.
Recall that on Monday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reported that four suspected bandits were arrested around the Akure Airport following a joint security operation triggered by a distress alert over suspicious movements near the airport perimeter.
However, the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State, in a statement by its spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, dismissed the claim as misleading, insisting that no such arrest took place at the airport. The police clarified that only two suspected logistics suppliers aiding kidnappers were apprehended along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis, not within the airport facility.
The minister explained that the incident, which generated conflicting narratives between aviation authorities and the police, must be properly understood within context, noting that what occurred was an external security situation that spilled into airport premises rather than a deliberate attempt to compromise aviation safety.
“Okay, there are two angles to this. The first is the conflicting statements and the second of why they will gain access in the first place. Of course, the first one, the conflicting statements, you know, when people sit down in Lagos and Abuja and rely on information of their lieutenants on the ground, sometimes, not all the time, sometimes you are bound to have them such discrepancies because you are not physically there,” he said.
He emphasised that available accounts indicate that individuals, suspected to be fleeing from a security situation involving bandits or kidnappers, gained access to the airport through a vulnerable section of the perimeter fence, rather than targeting passengers or airport operations. According to him, the distinction is critical in preventing unnecessary panic and preserving public confidence in the safety of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Keyamo acknowledged discrepancies in reports issued by aviation agencies and the police, attributing the inconsistencies to bureaucratic communication gaps rather than deliberate misinformation.
He noted that in large institutional structures, especially within government, reports often pass through multiple layers before reaching decision-makers, which can sometimes result in variations in the details presented. The minister explained that officials issuing statements from headquarters in cities like Lagos or Abuja often rely on information relayed from personnel on the ground, which may not always capture the full picture in real time.
“The person issuing a statement in Lagos at the headquarters in Lagos is not physically on the ground, and I think maybe that’s what happened. I’m also trying to get the full reports from all parties. Now, being the minister, I’m trying to get from all sides, but obviously what happened was that, of course, there was an intrusion into the airport in Akure, Akure airport, not that they were targeting the airport. The airport was not a target. Let us be very clear about this. In all the accounts, the airport was never a target. There was a problem, obviously, somewhere, and I think they ran into the airport, whether they are bandits or kidnappers and all that, but they ran into the airport. So, the airport was not, let me just assure the public, that the airport was not a target. Passengers were not a target.” he clarified.
As a result, he said, discrepancies in initial reports are not unusual, particularly in fast-evolving situations where agencies are working simultaneously to respond and communicate developments to the public.
The minister was emphatic in assuring Nigerians that the airport itself was not under threat.
He stressed that in all accounts reviewed so far, there is no indication that the airport or its passengers were targeted by the individuals involved in the incident. Rather, he explained that the intrusion occurred as a result of individuals attempting to escape from a separate security situation, which led them to breach airport boundaries unintentionally. He reiterated that it is important for the public to understand that the integrity of airport operations was not compromised in a deliberate or coordinated manner, and that the incident should not be interpreted as a failure of aviation security architecture in its entirety.
Keyamo identified a weak section of the airport’s perimeter fence as the immediate cause of the intrusion.
He explained that the presence of a porous segment at the rear of the Akure Airport created an access point that was exploited during the incident, highlighting the broader issue of aging infrastructure across several airports in the country. The minister noted that maintaining and upgrading such infrastructure requires significant financial investment and time, adding that efforts are already underway to address these vulnerabilities.
He said: “It’s just that, and that brings me to the second part of your question, it’s just that there was a porous part of our fence at the back of Akure airport, infrastructure all over the country. These are some of the infrastructure we’re trying to rebuild, and it takes a lot of money and time to rebuild all of this infrastructure. This problem of the fence breaking down, and we are trying to, of course, raise monies to rebuild the fence.
So, it is that porous part of the fence that these people were either running from kidnappers or bandits or whatever. I don’t know. I cannot fully say that.They now use that access to run into the airport, you know, to escape wherever they were running away from, and that is how they ran into the airport. So, and a couple of arrests also were made. So, I’m trying to get the full reports, but I just want to assure the public, the underlying issue is that the airport was not a target.”
He emphasised that the incident has further underscored the urgency of reinforcing airport perimeter security nationwide to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The minister disclosed that he has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, involving all relevant aviation and security agencies.
He stated that reports are being collated from multiple agencies, including aviation security units and law enforcement, to establish an accurate account of events and identify any lapses in duty or coordination.
“When these things happen, you have the station managers of various departments there. You know, you have NCA on the ground, NCA, you have FAN on the ground, NIMED is also present at the airport. So, those reporting lines, they’ll report to their next superior.
“Maybe you have an AGM, they will report to a DGM, DGM will report to AGM, AGM will report to their directors, directors will report to the FAN MD or the CEO, either FAN MD or the DG of NCA and all that, and I will not get a report from all of the CEOs. I will get a report from all of them.
“They forwarded their press statements and then, of course, I then saw the press statement by the police and I escalated this issue as of yesterday evening back to them and they were saying, they were trying to clear the discrepancies. I now have mandated them to get the true report because we cannot also sit down and take that, take the statement from the police also as 100% correct.
“Of course, the police came up with their statements, but is this 100% correct? We are not here to, of course, rub shoulders or to try to compare who is more, to be holier than thou, okay, or compare within government agencies who is, who is saying the truth also. But in between them, in between them, I’ve told my AVSEC people, AVSEC Insider Security, to of course link up with the ground, link up with the police or compare notes and come out with the true situation and I’m waiting for that.
“I’ve given those directives already. Okay, it’s not just a matter of giving the directive alone. It’s about, you know, setting a standard to prevent, you know, something that could compromise national aviation security”, Keyamo explained.
According to him, if it is discovered that personnel failed to perform their responsibilities or that there were lapses in surveillance or reporting, appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken. He stressed that accountability is essential in maintaining high standards within the aviation sector and ensuring that public trust is not eroded.
Keyamo also used the opportunity to highlight systemic challenges within bureaucratic reporting structures.
He explained that unlike the private sector, where information flows directly and rapidly between relevant parties, government systems often involve multiple reporting layers, which can slow down the process of obtaining accurate information.
“But the problem in the bureaucracy, let me explain, you know, I’m coming from the private sector, you know, so but I’m not going to indict bureaucracy, just bureaucracy, just bureaucracy all over the world. But instead of a private sector, the problem of bureaucracy, and this is exactly what you are seeing here now, is that if a man, if somebody wants to take a report from A to A to B, if Mr. A wants to give a report to Mr. B, in a bureaucracy, in a bureaucratic sector, A will not immediately report to F, F will report it to G, G will immediately report to J, J will report it to Z, Z will not come back to B.
“This is the problem with, it’s a bureaucratic sector. In a private sector, A will just simply give that report to B.If it’s a private sector, in two minutes, in one second, A will just hand over that report to B. But in a bureaucratic sector, it will go zigzag, zigzag, everyone will make their comment on all of that before it comes back to B. It’s a bureaucracy.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. We’ve messed it on the ground. I cannot change I come from a private sector, and I have the private sector mentality, but then we have to respect what we have messed on the ground”, he added.
This, he said, can lead to delays in decision-making and inconsistencies in public communication. While acknowledging the limitations of the system, he noted that efforts are being made to streamline reporting processes within the aviation sector to ensure quicker and more reliable information flow during critical incidents.
Despite the incident, the minister reassured Nigerians that airport safety remains a top priority.
He emphasised that the government is committed to strengthening security infrastructure and operational coordination across all airports in the country. According to him, ongoing reforms, including improved surveillance systems and infrastructure upgrades, will enhance the ability of authorities to prevent and respond to security breaches effectively.
“So, I’m trying to get the full reports, but I just want to assure the public, the underlying issue is that the airport was not a target. Passengers were not a target of that invasion.” He urged the public to remain confident in the aviation system, noting that incidents such as the one in Akure are being taken seriously and addressed with urgency.
Keyamo concluded that while the Ondo incident has raised concerns, it does not reflect a systemic failure of Nigeria’s aviation security framework.
He reiterated that the event was an isolated occurrence linked to external security challenges and infrastructural gaps, rather than a targeted attack on aviation facilities.
The minister assured that lessons from the incident will inform ongoing improvements, ensuring that Nigeria’s airports remain safe and secure for passengers and operators alike.
