For those looking to travel to SE #Nigeria this Xmas-New Year holiday season, here's a head up - there're 5 x-ray scanning machines at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport on Owerri. None of them works. Let me try & explain, so u'll get a fuller picture
Let's start with the x-ray scanner at the departure in Sam Mbakwe. Airport. It was delivered abt 5 yrs ago. It began to break down over 2 yes ago. AVSEC staff tried to extend it's Life. Some replacements were brought. When they broke down, it was returned to service. Now it's out 
2 other scanners were brought into service late in 2017 for departures in Sam Mbakwe Int'l. By May 2018, they had broken down. Today, they are magnets for refuse in the check-in area. They have bn out of service for over 6 months
There is supposed to be an x-ray scanner in the baggage area in the airport on Owerri. It has never worked since in was delivered in 2016. Not for 1 day. The AVSEC staff struggle to do it manually. The contractor was fully paid to deliver a non-functioning machine
In the VIP lounge in Owerri, the x-ray scanner is also crocked. It broke down in May 2018 & has not worked since then. It has been out of service for over 6 months
So, as we approach the high season, the Owerri airport is without 1 functional x-ray machine. The AVSEC staff are already over-stretched. Passenger capacity will be stretched over 500% during the holiday season. Travel experience to Owerri this season will be difficult
Meanwhile, cargo handling capacity at Sam Mbakwe Int'l Airport is being upgraded. How it will handle this new capacity without basic security facilities can only be left to imagination.
