FAAN accuses customs of breaching security at Airport

… FAAN engaging in public display of false sense of superiority – Customs

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has accused the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of security breaches at the nation’s airport.

General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu who made this accusation in a statement in Lagos said that the privilege of bearing firearms by the operatives of NCS has become a recurrent threat to safety, security, staff and its operations.

Yakubu disclosed that a convoy belonging to the Customs Area Controller, Hajj and Cargo Terminal breached security screening and allegedly assaulted an on-duty Aviation Security (AVSEC) official.

Her words, “The privilege of bearing firearms by the NCS has become a recurrent threat to the safety and security of our staff and our operations.”

She continued, “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 on the Area Comptroller’s entourage later shoved aside the Avsec 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.

“While accessing the gate, the armed escorts to the Comptroller threatened to beat up the Avsec officers at the gate if they dare resist their assault and breach of security.”

She, however, urged stakeholders and other security operatives at the airports to be disciplined and professional in their conduct adding that “This blatant abuse of the privilege of bearing firearms by the NCS has become a recurrent threat to the safety and security of our staff and our operations.”

“While we keep on working to resolve all our challenges decisively, we hereby urge all stakeholders to pls respect our mandate by being of disciplined and Professional conduct in the interest of national security and operational safety,” she warned.

Reacting to the accusation, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Joseph Attah also accused FAAN of engaging in public display of false sense of superiority.

According to Attah, “Saying that a gate is restricted to Customs in an international cargo airport shows lack of understanding of NCS roles.

“Could it be that the gate is being used to ferry goods out of the airport without Customs clearance? What is the intention behind restricting Customs in what is by status a Customs controlled area?

“It’s curious that instead of engaging each other for better understanding between government agencies, FAAN is engaging in public display of false sense of superiority.