The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is tightening access and documentation procedures at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as part of efforts to reduce congestion and strengthen safety and security.

The new measures are also aimed at curbing unauthorised access and improving accountability at the terminal.

The Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, led by its Director, Lekan Thomas, recently engaged key government agencies operating at the terminal to sensitise them to the proposed access control measures.

The agencies include the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, NAFDAC, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Police EOD, DSS, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Federal Produce Inspection Services.

Under the proposed system, only registered, verified and authorised persons, businesses and vehicles will be permitted to access designated areas of the terminal.

FAAN’s Integrated Cargo Stakeholder Registry will serve as the primary reference for verifying cargo operators, while biometric identification, facial recognition, fingerprint verification and electronic access records will be introduced.

As part of Phase One, Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and boom barriers will be installed on two of the four lanes at Gate One, while CCTV systems will support surveillance, monitoring and investigations.

An X-ray scanner for baggage and parcels will also be deployed to strengthen security screening at the terminal.

FAAN said the measures are not intended to restrict legitimate cargo operations but to eliminate unauthorised access, improve accountability and reduce unnecessary human and vehicular movements within the facility.