Following JK directive, airports to enhance security

By Correspondent David

  Authorities to improve equipment, boost staff capacity

TAA Director General, Eng Suleiman Suleiman

Following President Jakaya Kikwete’s last week’s stern warning to airport officials over their laxness in combating drugs and other illicit material trafficking, the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) has said it is determined to ‘act on the president’s orders’ and improve its security systems and bolster its human resources capacity.


At the start of the week, TAA Director General, Eng Suleiman Suleiman, told reporters in Dar es Salaam the move to intensify security is a direct response to the President’s order: ‘No more drugs should pass through the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) or the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).’

Speaking at the opening of a two day meeting to inaugurate the fifth TAA Workers Council, the Director said a board meeting was convened and among other things, they discussed how to achieve the ‘zero trafficking presidential order’.

He however maintained that security at the two airports is, “…not as bad as some people claim,” rather, “the only challenge is how to sustain it as the traffickers keep developing new techniques every day.”
But he did admit that: “We need to improve our staff and enhance security throughout.”

As for the new TAA Worker’s Council, he said that for the next three years, the Council shall be a platform for workers to speak for their rights at work and discuss issues that face them which ones addressed will improve their performance.

Secretary of the Workers Council, Abdi Mkwizu said the Council will serve as a bridge between the workers and TAA management and it will spearhead mutual relationship growth between the two parties.

Laying a foundation stone for the construction of Terminal Three at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) last week, President Jakaya Kikwete warned management of all the country’s international airports that if they fail to stop drug trafficking through their stations, all TAA top officials shall be held accountable.

Kikwete said JNIA and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) are international airports and underscored the need for enhanced security to control drug trafficking which he said is ‘now becoming a serious challenge and is damaging the country’s image.’

Since August last year, management at JNIA has introduced new advanced modern machinery capable of not only detecting the drugs but also identifying the type of drugs being trafficked and now with the president’s order and their commitment to respond positively it is expected that security will be impervious at both airports.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN