The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has moved to calm public anxiety following reports of a security breach at Akure Airport, insisting that the facility was never the intended target of the incident.
The minister made the clarification during an interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Tuesday, where he addressed concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s airport system after conflicting reports emerged regarding the incident.
According to him, the situation was not a coordinated attack on aviation infrastructure but rather an external security development that inadvertently extended into the airport environment.
Public concern grew earlier in the week after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced that four suspected bandits had been arrested around the Akure Airport following a security operation triggered by reports of suspicious movements near the airport’s perimeter fence.
The development immediately raised questions about the integrity of security arrangements at the facility and the broader safety of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure.
However, the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State later disputed the claim.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, the police said no arrests were made within the airport premises.
Instead, the police explained that two individuals suspected of supplying logistics to kidnappers were arrested along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis outside the airport vicinity, adding that the incident had been mischaracterised in earlier reports.
Reacting to the differing accounts, Keyamo acknowledged the confusion created by the conflicting statements but attributed the situation to the challenges often associated with information gathering in large bureaucratic systems.
He explained that officials in aviation headquarters in Lagos or Abuja typically depend on reports transmitted by officers on the ground, and during rapidly evolving incidents, discrepancies may arise before full details are verified.
According to the minister, such variations in initial accounts are not uncommon when multiple agencies respond simultaneously to security alerts.
“When people rely on reports from their lieutenants on the ground, especially during developing situations, discrepancies can sometimes occur because the information is still being processed,” he explained.
Keyamo added that his office is currently receiving detailed reports from all relevant agencies in order to establish a comprehensive account of the incident.
Despite the confusion surrounding the early reports, the minister was emphatic that the airport itself was not under attack.
He stressed that available information indicates that the individuals involved in the incident were not targeting aviation operations but rather appeared to have entered the airport environment while attempting to escape from another security situation nearby.
“The airport was not the target and passengers were not the target. In all the accounts we have seen so far, there is no indication that the airport itself was under deliberate threat,” Keyamo stated.
He said it was important to clarify this distinction to prevent unnecessary alarm among travellers and to preserve public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation safety system.
Keyamo further disclosed that the breach occurred through a vulnerable portion of the airport’s perimeter fence. According to him, a deteriorated section of fencing at the rear of the airport created a porous access point that was exploited during the incident.
He described the situation as a reminder of the infrastructure challenges confronting many airports across the country, particularly ageing security installations that require substantial investment to upgrade.
“These are some of the infrastructure gaps we are currently working to address. Rebuilding and reinforcing airport facilities across the country requires considerable resources and time,” he noted.
The minister added that the government is already exploring ways to mobilise funds to rehabilitate and strengthen perimeter fencing at the airport.
Keyamo also disclosed that he has ordered a full investigation into the incident to determine precisely what transpired and whether there were lapses in coordination among agencies responsible for airport security.
The investigation will involve multiple aviation and security bodies operating at the airport, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, alongside aviation security personnel.
He explained that within the aviation system, station managers of various departments are required to submit reports through their respective chains of command, which eventually reach the leadership of their organisations before being forwarded to the ministry.
Keyamo said he has instructed aviation security officials to liaise directly with the police to reconcile the differing narratives and produce a verified account of events.
He warned that if the investigation reveals negligence or failure by any personnel to perform their duties adequately, disciplinary measures would be taken.
The minister used the opportunity to highlight the broader structural challenges within bureaucratic systems, noting that government reporting procedures often involve several administrative layers before information reaches top decision-makers.
Unlike the private sector, where communication between officials can be direct and immediate, he explained that government institutions typically require reports to move through multiple offices, with each level reviewing and commenting on the information. This process, he said, can slow the transmission of accurate information during emergencies.
Nevertheless, Keyamo noted that the aviation ministry is working to streamline communication channels within the sector to ensure quicker and more reliable information flow during security incidents.
Despite the concerns raised by the Ondo incident, the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening security across Nigeria’s airports.
He emphasised that efforts are ongoing to improve surveillance systems, upgrade airport infrastructure and enhance coordination among aviation security agencies.
Keyamo urged the public to remain confident in the country’s aviation safety framework, stressing that the Akure incident should be viewed as an isolated occurrence rather than a sign of systemic weakness.
According to him, the lessons drawn from the incident will contribute to ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s airports remain secure and capable of responding effectively to any security challenge.
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