Aviation Security within the context of National Security in Nigeria: A Critical Assessment

Aviation Security is a critical component of national security, especially in countries like Nigeria that face multifaceted security challenges. As the custodian for both domestic and international travel needs, Nigeria’s aviation sector is vulnerable to a range of threats including terrorism, illicit drugs smuggling, human trafficking and organised crime. These risks underscore the need for a robust aviation security framework to safeguard passengers, infrastructure, and the nations broader security interest. This study, conducted a critical assessment of the existing aviation security arrangement in the country with a view to exploring its implication on national security. The study was guided by the Systems theory while the descriptive research design was adopted. Primary data was gathered through the Key Informant Interview method of data collection, where selected key informants from the aviation security directorates of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were interviewed. Secondary data were sourced from official documents, working reports and newspaper editorials, which were collected from public libraries, while some documents of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) were sourced from NCAA and other online sources. Data were content analysed. Nigeria has made significant strides in improving aviation security through regulatory frameworks, strategic plans implementation, and international collaborations. Findings have however, revealed that issues such as inadequate technology, corruption, limited funding and insufficient training continue to pose significant barriers to its efforts towards exploring its full potential and contributing optimally to national security. Critical issues bothering on defective passenger profiling, obsolete surveillance technology and porous perimeter fencing systems were identified as major impediments that require appropriate attention through massive investment in biometric technology, intrusion detection devices with integrated alarm systems and surveillance drones equipped with real time footage access. Aviation security plays a critical role in the broader national security framework. However, its full potential can only be realised through government intervention in facilitating significant investment in airport infrastructure, innovative policy implementation, capacity building, and a more robust inter-agency coordination. Word Count: 330 Keywords: Aviation Security, National Security, Surveillance Technology, Airport infrastructure, Nigeria