Customs officials, claiming they hadn’t been notified about the equipment, locked the FAAN security director inside a shed. An armed standoff unfolded on Thursday at the NAHCO Shed of the Hajj/Cargo Terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, following a dispute between the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). SaharaReporters learnt that the conflict escalated into a prolonged and tense confrontation.
The incident took place at the NAHCO shed of the Ajantako Terminal around 2:30pm when the FAAN Director of Aviation Security Services, Afegbai Albert Igbafe, was supervising the installation of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) machines, SaharaReporters exclusively gathered.
Customs officials, claiming they hadn’t been notified about the equipment, locked the FAAN security director inside a shed.
“In response, the director called for backup, prompting an armed FAAN unit to arrive. The situation worsened when Customs summoned reinforcements from their Ikeja barracks, creating a volatile standoff that lasted for hours,” a source told SaharaReporters.
During the standoff, Customs officials, one of the sources reportedly argued that the airport falls under their control, a claim FAAN officials dismissed as baseless.
“The Nigerian Customs Service is merely a security agency; the airport and its operations are managed and controlled by FAAN,” the source quoted a FAAN official to have clarified.
The confrontation highlights a longstanding jurisdictional dispute, with FAAN accusing Customs of routinely disregarding aviation protocols. Another source emphasised that Customs’ lack of adherence not only undermines operational efficiency but also compromises safety standards at Nigerian airports.
The disturbing part of the entire episode was when Customs officials allegedly assaulted FAAN personnel who were recording the incident with their mobile devices. Witnesses described the attack as unprovoked and reflective of Customs’ disregard for aviation protocols.
reports that this is not the first time tensions have flared between FAAN and Customs.
In January 25, 2022 SaharaReporters reported how the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service traded words on Twitter over claims that the operatives of NCS forcefully got access to a restricted area.
While FAAN accused customs officers of forcefully gaining entrance into a restricted area, the security agency said the statement showed a lack of understanding of its role.
“At about 1745hrs on Thursday, January 20, 2022, while the AVSEC officers on day duty at Gate 3 were profiling a NAHCO vehicle that wanted to access the Security Restricted Area (SRA) via gate 3, the Customs Area Comptroller for Hajj and Cargo Terminal suddenly emerged and pulled off behind the NAHCO vehicle that was being attended to and CSC Agunbiade, a customs officer at the gate, forcefully took over the gate and opened the gate for the Comptroller and his escorts to forcefully access the Security Restricted Area via the gate,” Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, had said in a statement then.
On February 16, 2020 SaharaReporters exclusively reported how top officials of the Nigerian Custom Service moved cash through the tarmac and bypassed the departure point.
NCS had earlier reportedly intercepted and seized $8.06m at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The hard currency was stashed in six bags and packed inside a coaster bus belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company.
Prior to these incidents, in 2015, Nigerian Customs officers attempted to access the airport tarmac without proper accreditation.
When stopped, they became unruly and assaulted a FAAN security officer. This altercation occurred just as International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) officials were inspecting the airport for a possible upgrade.
These recurring clashes highlight broader issues of poor inter-agency collaboration and Customs’ frequent disregard for established aviation regulations.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), which owns the NAHCO Shed where the incident occurred, has claimed that they were not informed about the installation of the ETD machines, another source told SaharaReporters.
According to the source, NAHCO in their reaction, aligned with Customs’ claim of inadequate notification, as a justification for the actions
“Today’s confrontation underscores the deteriorating relationship between the two agencies and raises urgent concerns about Customs’ respect for aviation protocols. These ongoing jurisdictional conflicts pose significant risks to public safety.”
From Sahara news
