Stakeholders in the aviation industry on Wednesday lauded security at the airside of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Arising from a three-day workshop to mark the Murtala Muhammed Airport Safety Week in Lagos, the stakeholders said that security at Nigeria airports airside has recorded significance improvement over the years as evidenced by the near zero incidence on the runways.

Speakers at the event titled, "Airside Safety, the Very Essence of Aviation" noted that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), airlines and other managers of the facilities are doing everything possible to prevent and reduce all foreseeable risks of accidents, and incident around the airside of the airports.

They advised that only authorised establishments by the airport management authority should always utilise the airport perimeter routes for airport management service purposes.

Director of Airport Operations of FAAN, Capt. Henry Omeogu explained that FAAN, like sister agencies across the globe continuously imbibe a safety culture among those who walk around the runway and deploy resources to ensure that the airports airside operation is given all the support it requires in the areas of manpower, training, equipment and orientation.

Omeogu said that safe culture is an integral part of the industry and takes many forms, including standard operating procedures, adoption of new technologies and ensuring that safety is the driving force behind FAAN operations around the airports.

Chief Executive of Talk Transport and Safety Consult Limited, Mr. Amaobi Imediegwu emphasised the need for vigilance around the runways, taxiways and taxi lanes, the ground transportations, grass areas as well as the apron areas and airport lighting.

Amaobi noted that runway safety is a significant challenge and top priority for everyone in aviation.

Other speakers spoke on the need to effectively carry out protection of navigational aids, prevent wildlife hazard, prevention of runway incursion, excursion and confusion and effective communication around the airside.