The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has raised alarm over the violation of security protocols at the Lagos International Airport by customs officers.
The Authority frown at this development against the background of the recent security breach by customs officers attached to the Area Comptroller Customs Hajj and Cargo Terminal at the airport.
In a statement, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu says, apart from breaching security checks at the gates, customs officers in the entourage of the comptroller shoved aside the Aviation Security, AVSEC Officer at the gate, forcefully took over the gate and opened the gate for the Comptroller and his escorts to access the Security Restricted Area via the gate.
“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”.
Explaining further, she says, 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.
The statement adds that, this blatant abuse of the privilege of bearing firearms by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has become a recurrent threat to the Safety and Security of its Staff and operations.
FAAN states that, they will keep on working to resolve all their challenges decisively and urge all stakeholders to respect its mandate, be disciplined and Professional in the interest of national security and operational safety.