Aviation workers have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to remove the Head of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, over an assault on the Director of Security at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Igbafe Afegbai.
The aggrieved workers also called for the redeploy of all Customs officers involved in assaulting the FAAN director, as they threatened rage against what they tagged as ‘excesses and misbehaviors’ of the officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The unions include the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals.
They also demanded the reduction of customs personnel across the nation’s airports, especially at the Lagos airport, in compliance with global standards and practices.
The unions further insisted that if the customs officers are not redeployed within the stipulated 14-day ultimatum, aviation workers may not guarantee industry peace and harmony, particularly within the Lagos airport.
The three unions further called on FAAN to immediately sign a Memorandum of Understanding with all paramilitary agencies at airports, defining their scope, roles, and responsibilities.
Afegbai alongside some senior staff members at FAAN had gone to replace a faulty security machine that was taken from Enugu airport on a temporary basis, however, the customs, insisted that the machine was an illegal machine meant for export and ordered reinforcement to molest, harass, and also prevent his team from installing the machine.
Reacting to the development, the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, said both SAHCO and NAHCO, where the incident occurred are Customs licensed bonded warehouses, but silent on the allegation of assault.
He further stated that the service is committed to fostering inter-agency cooperation, ensuring the smooth operation of Customs-controlled areas to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.