Ilorin airport holds stakeholders’ meeting on cattle incursion, land encroachment
By Matthew Denis
In a bid to ensure maximum security at the Ilorin International Airport, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday held a stakeholders meeting.
The meeting focused on three major issues; herdsmen and their cattle incursion of the airport operational areas; airport land encroachment and illegal mining activities by people.
After lot of deliberations, a communique was issued as resolutions to safeguard the airside and landside of the airport.
It reads thus: “Anyone who encroaches the restricted areas of the airport will be charged for vandalisation and deliberate destruction of Federal Government property.
“The culprit will pay at least N500,000 as penalty as the Magajis were tasked to ensure that the herdsmen keep their animals off the airport operational/restricted areas.
“Any failure of the magajis to restrict the animal incursion shall lead to airport management shooting the animal at sight.
“Planting of crops that attract birds which are dangerous to aviation activities should be discouraged.
“Also airport encroachment such as building of structures on airport land and illegal mining activities should be avoided.
Speaking to Pilot Aviation, shortly after the meeting, the FAAN Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian said, “We have been having series of cases of cattle incursion and herdsmen in our operational and restricted areas and part of the runway.
“Therefore, the Managing Director of FAAN, Alhaji Saleh Dunoma asked us to come and have a stakeholders meeting to fine tune solutions to the menace,” he explained.
On her part, Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, Hajia Aminat Aromoke Omodara lauded the approach employed by the airport management.
She assured that the council will continue to collaborate with the airport management to ensure safety of the airport.
Also speaking, the Serikin Fulani, Alhaji Ahmadu Issa said the Fulani community will partner FAAN to setup monitoring team at the airport premises to identify violators.
Those present at the meeting included the FAAN management team, airport security agencies including the police, Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Custom Service, Secretary to Kwara state Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold and the Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, Hajia Aminat Aromoke Omodara.
The traditional rulers were led by the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Sulu Gambari ably represented by the Balogun of Gambari; Seriki Fulani of Ilorin, Magaji Fili community, Magaji Gaa- Odota, Magaji Gbagba community, Seriki Fulani Ayeguabalah, Magajis Wara community and the Alangua Wara among others
