The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said it has concluded plans with the Office of the National Security Adviser to reduce the number of security checkpoints where personnel physically come in contact with both passengers and their baggage at the nation’s airports.

Travelers have continued to complain of delays in their movement while traveling through Nigerian airports over multiple physical security checks.

Speaking with newsmen the on Saturday in Lagos, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, stated that the agency and the office of the NSA have agreed to carry out short and long-term measures to address the issue including the creation of a joint coordination room where all the agencies can view CCTV cameras to ascertain what they are looking for.

Kuku described the development as disturbing but affirmed that the issue was the first thing she inquired about upon assumption of office, adding that she sat down with the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss how to streamline the facilitation processes.

The FAAN MD said, “On the issues of the checking of baggage, it borders me so much, and that was the first inquiry that I made when I assumed office. As far back as 2011 and 2012, when I was in the industry, I have worked on this with the former minister.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has restated Federal Government’s commitment to safeguard press freedom and rights of journalists across the country.

Idris said this in his speech at Press Freedom and Good Governance Award 2024, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Saturday night in Abuja.

The minister, who was the Chairman of the event,  said he was deeply honoured by the conferment of the Lifetime Achievement Award upon him by the NUJ,  which he described as his immediate constituency.

According to him the award holds profound significance for him and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“This year’s theme of World Press Freedom Day resonates deeply with our ministry’s vision and President Tinubu’s priority areas.

“The areas include restoring trust, reorienting national values, and creating an enabling environment for the media.

“It underscores the crucial role of journalism in addressing the environmental crisis”, he said.

According to him, in this moment of environmental crisis, the role of media transcends mere reporting; it embodies a commitment to mobilising mass action for the common good.

“With the power to inform, educate, and inspire, the media has the unparalleled ability to ignite movements, elevate voices, and effectuate behavioral change toward the environment.

“I want to reaffirm our sustained commitment to safeguarding press freedom, promoting diverse opinions, and protecting the rights of journalists.

“Let us redouble our efforts to build a future where journalism thrives, press freedom is upheld, and our planet is safeguarded for generations to come,” Idris said.

The categories of awards include Touch Bearers of Press Freedom, Defender of Press Freedom and Best Investigative Reporter of the Year.

Others were LIFE Time Achievement Awards and Good Governance Award.

While, Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue got the Good  Governance award on Advocacy of the Masses and Human Rights, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno got the Good Governance Award on Education.

Also, the Good Governance Award for transparency went to Mr Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL.

Others that clinched the Torch Bearer of Press Freedom Awards include, Edwin Philip of Breeze FM Lafia, Pauline Kuje Vana of NTA Maiduguri and Tayo Ikujuni of NAN.

Others were Mustapha Batsari of VOA Hausa Service, Gabriel Idibia of Daybreak Newspaper, Adekola Namgbala, Allah el-Kurebe and Publisher of Wikki Times, Mohammed Salisu

NAN also reports that while the awards for Defender of Press Freedom went to a veteran journalist, Gbenga Onayiga, the Anyim Ude Prize for the best Investigative Reporter went to Umar Audi of Daily Nigerian Newspaper.

Similarly, the Good Governance Award for Mass Mobilisation went to the Directors-General of Nigerian Television Authority and Voice of Nigeria, Salisu Dembos and Jibrin Baba-Ndace respectively.

The National President of Nigerian Union of Teachers, Audi Amba got the Good Governance Award for Education, Planning and Leadership.

The Chief Executive Officer of National Bureau of Statistics, Mr Adeyemu Adeniran, got same award, but on Economic Development.

NAN reports that the event attracted people from all works of life including   the National Assembly, media and other stakeholders.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Components of Operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Punch in the North East and North Central  killed several terrorists in airstrikes in Borno and Niger.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air components had continued to obliterate terrorists and destroy their structures, equipment and mobility, thereby limiting their ability to attack ground troops and innocent Nigerians at will.

In the North East he said the air interdiction was on May 3 authourised and conducted over Chinene, a location tucked inside the Mandara mountain.

Terrorists had been observed to be emanating from various locations and assembling ostensibly for a meeting.

According to him, seven gun trucks were also observed parked under trees within the same location.

Gabkwet said the aircraft bombarded the assembly area and tree coverings and destroyed their weapons and mobility.

He said that Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were neutralised and logistics destroyed.

According to him, similar airstrikes were conducted same day by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in a pre-emptive air strikes over terrorists hibernating at Allawa village, near Shiroro town in Niger.

The NAF spokesman said the mission was conducted following credible intelligence which revealed the migration of terrorists into the village after the mass exit of locals for fear of their safety.

He said the terrorists had, on May 1, stormed the deserted Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area and torched the Central Primary School.

“In the evening of the same day, another group of terrorists also arrived at the location, wielding AK-47/49 rifles after invading Galapai village in Galadima Kogo District of Shiroro.

“Accordingly, to prevent further occupation as well as pursue the terrorists from the location, the air component scrambled a formation of its platforms to attack the location.

“On arrival at the location, several terrorists were sighted and engaged effectively.

“Furthermore, following credible intelligence as well as detailed aerial observation, which confirmed the presence of their cache of arms hidden inside Allawa Forest, the air component further carried out air strikes at the location,” he said.

Gabkwet also said that the NAF carried out air strikes North of Arugbana and Temakiri in the Niger Delta, where illegal refining sites were observed and destroyed.

According to him, through this action, the capabilities of oil thieves to continually sabotage and destroy oil pipelines were minimised.