The spokesperson for the airport authority has confirmed to the BBC that thieves have stolen the lighting system of one of the runways at Nigeria’s busiest airport, shortly after its installation. Yakubu Funtua stated that an investigation has been launched to apprehend the culprits and recover the stolen items.
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The specific timeframe of when the system was taken from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos remains unclear. However, local media outlets have reported alleged involvement of airport employees in the theft.
The installation of ground lights in November had put an end to years of restrictions on landing after dusk on that particular section of the airport. Prior to the installation, domestic carriers had to divert to the international section and taxi approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to the correct terminal, resulting in disruptions to flights.
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Mr. Funtua emphasized that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is committed to plugging all vulnerabilities to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
According to an unnamed source cited by Nigeria’s Punch newspaper, the criminals took advantage of the runway’s closure for maintenance over several months to steal the lighting system. The source attributed the series of thefts to a “syndicate” comprising airport workers and accomplices from outside the airport.
