The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it would ensure that the cargo terminals and warehouses at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos remained closed until the terminal operators address some of the nagging issues at the airport.
Speaking in a Press Conference in Lagos on Monday, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Tajudeen Olanrewaju stated that the action became necessary following the failure of all efforts made by the command to get the terminal operators to comply with the customs directives to ensure security at the airport as well as enhance revenue collection.
Olanrewaju listed some of the reasons for shutting down the terminals to include; the presence of unauthorized crowd in restricted areas and non conducive environment for collection of government in line with customs Import procedures.
Others according to him are the inability of the terminal operators to provide required logistics for trade facilitation, compliance and protection of national security during the clearance process as well as the condemnable behavior of the Customs Clearing Agents along with touts against the Customs Area Controller Murtala Mohammed Area Command and the visiting Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone A Ikeja as well as other Senior Customs Officers of the command who were at the shed for a peaceful deliberation and enlightenment.
“That is the peak of it, we were assaulted at our duty posts, that is why we are applying force to get the terminal operators to comply”.
“In view of the foregoing, the Nigeria Customs Service is left with no option but to exercise the powers conferred on it as provided under Section 145 (1) (b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended, the terminals will remain closed until further notice”.
“Anybody or group of persons who tries to frustrate the Nigeria Customs Service in the discharge of its duties especially efforts geared towards revenue generation in line with the Comptroller General of Customs’ six point agenda shall be dealt with decisively. To be forewarned is to be forearmed”, Olanrewaju warned.
He however disclosed that all perishable items could be released through the tarmac whereas Medicaments, Diplomatic cargo/parcels and legitimate trade goods already processed would also be released.
“The authority of this command is monitoring these warehouses and terminals to see their level of compliance and once they meet the conditions set for them, they will be reopened and where they fail, they will remain closed”, he stated.
The Freight agents last week attacked and assaulted some officers and men of the Command on their duty posts over alleged high charges, hurled pure water sachets and stones on the Customs Area Controller of the command, Compt. Olanrewaju , an action which led to the drafting into the area the operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A to help restore order at the command.
