Arik Airline managing director Chris Ndulue said Sunday the incident magnifies "incessant security lapses at our airports."
Arik spokesman Ola Adebanji said passengers and crew had alerted the pilots and the Federal Aviation Agency that a boy was seen running to the plane as it was taxiing to take off Saturday from southern Benin City.
Agency spokesman Yakubu Dati said security agents swept the area and found nothing.
Adebanji said a boy aged 13 or 14 jumped out of the wheel well when the plane landed in the commercial capital of Lagos. He was arrested by Arik personnel.