The Federal Government has given approval for Aviation Security personnel to start bearing arms in order to better secure passengers and installations across airports in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting which held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Wednesday and was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sirika said that the aviation ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Interior and other stakeholders in the training of the Aviation Security personnel on how to handle arms.

He said: “We are very serious about aviation security, just last week the President approved that aviation security should bear arms, so we are trying to make them take the form and shape of TSA of the US with K-9 dogs, handcuffs, the guards, the batons, light weapons, etc.

“The Minister of Interior is helping us in that regard from the directive of Mr President to partner with them and other stakeholders to ensure we keep our airports secure.

“So, very soon you will see them with uniform, doing different functions and securing our airports.

“All these will be unveiled at the next stakeholders meeting,” he added.

Sirika further disclosed that the council has approved the sum of N1.1 billion for the completion of the Kaduna International Airport Terminal building.

He pointed out that the contract for the rehabilitation of the building was initially awarded in 2011 at the cost of about N500 million.

“FEC has approved the completion of Kaduna terminal building. It was awarded in 2011 and commenced in 2012,” he said.

“During the rehabilitation of the terminal building a contractor noticed some structural damages to the building itself and then increased the scope of what to be done to put it to use and that necessitated the variation of the contract sum.