The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has assured Nigerians that the recent security breach at Akure Airport in Ondo State was not a targeted attack on the facility, insisting that both the airport and its passengers were never the intended victims.

Keyamo made this clarification during an interview on a public affairs programme on Eagles 102.5 FM in Ogun State, amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s airports following conflicting reports surrounding the incident.

The controversy began after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria announced that four suspected bandits were arrested around the airport.

However, the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State countered the claim, stating that only two suspected logistics suppliers aiding kidnappers were apprehended along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis, not within the airport premises.

Addressing the discrepancies, Keyamo said the situation reflected communication gaps often associated with large institutions rather than deliberate misinformation.

He explained that preliminary findings indicate that the individuals involved were fleeing from a separate security situation and inadvertently gained access to the airport through a vulnerable section of the perimeter fence.

He said, “Okay, there are two angles to this. The first is the conflicting statements, and the second is why they will gain access in the first place. Sometimes you are bound to have such discrepancies because you are not physically there.”

While also seeking calm among the members of the public, Keyamo emphasised, “The airport was not a target. Let us be very clear about this. In all accounts, the airport was never a target, and passengers were not a target.”

According to him, the breach highlights infrastructural gaps, particularly a porous section of the airport’s fence, which provided access into the facility.

He noted that such weaknesses are part of broader challenges affecting ageing infrastructure across airports in the country. “It’s just that there was a porous part of our fence at the back of Akure Airport. These are some of the infrastructure we are trying to rebuild, and it takes a lot of money and time,” Keyamo said.

The minister disclosed that he has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident, directing aviation security personnel to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to establish the true sequence of events.

“I have mandated them to get the true report. We cannot sit down and take the statement from the police as 100 per cent correct,” he said, stressing the need for coordination among agencies.

He further warned that any lapses in duty or security oversight uncovered during the investigation would attract sanctions, noting that accountability remains critical to maintaining confidence in the aviation sector.

Keyamo also pointed to bureaucratic bottlenecks as a factor contributing to delays and inconsistencies in reporting, explaining that information often passes through multiple layers before reaching decision-makers, unlike in the private sector, where communication is more direct.

Despite the incident, the minister reassured the travelling public that Nigeria’s aviation system remains safe, describing the breach as an isolated case linked to external security pressures rather than a systemic failure.

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