- Title: NIGERIA: Nigeria to acquire full-body scanners for airports
- Date: 31st December 2009
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 30, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF THE NIGERIAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS FLAGS AT THE HEADQUARTERS AVIATION, SECURITY PERSONNEL AND JOURNALISTS AT THE PRESS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HAROLD DEMUREN, THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, NIGERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY, SAYING: In combating with new threat of terrorism, as unfolding recently, Nigeria will be upgrading its screening security system to 3D total body imaging scanners." VARIOUS SECURITY OFFICIALS AT THE BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HAROLD DEMUREN, THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, NIGERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY, SAYING: "For avoidance of doubt all airlines have been directed to ensure that any passenger that refuses to comply with 100 percent screening should be denied boarding." VARIOUS SECURITY OFFICIALS WIDE OF PRESS BRIEFING VENUE
- Embargoed: 15th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA4MX731W74J6KKSNLERNHGGC99
- Story Text: Nigeria will equip its international airports with full-body scanners next year after a 23-year-old Nigerian man tried to blow up a U.S. passenger plane on Christmas Day, an aviation official said on Wednesday (December 30).
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority chief Harold Demuren said Nigeria had started the process of acquiring the machines, which use radio waves to generate a picture of the body that can see through clothing and spot hidden weapons or packages.
"In combating with new threat of terrorism, as unfolding recently, Nigeria will be upgrading its screening security system to 3D total body imaging scanners," said Demuren.
Demuren added that Nigeria is determined to acquire the machines because of the new face of the threat and that they acquisition will be taking place in the New Year.
Speaking ahead of the arrival of the new machines, he said Nigerian authorities had been ordered to ensure full compliance with tighter security measures, including a "100 percent physical screening" of all passengers and the placing of liquids, gels and aerosols in transparent plastic bags.
"For avoidance of doubt all airlines have been directed to ensure that any passenger that refuses to comply with 100 percent screening should be denied boarding," he said.
International airlines serve Nigeria's capital Abuja and the commercial hub of Lagos from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. There are also direct flights to the United States.
Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been charged with trying to blow up Northwest Airlines flight 253 as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam with almost 300 people on board.
Abdulmutallab started his journey to Detroit in Lagos, where he boarded a KLM flight to Amsterdam before going through transit at Schiphol airport.
Concerns over cost and privacy have so far hindered the widespread use of the technology, with critics arguing that it is unacceptably intrusive. Major manufacturers like L-3 Communications, Smiths Group and Qinetiq Group have been working to assuage those fears. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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