Nosa Aituamen
Three major aviation unions in the industry are demanding the immediate redeployment of Custom officers involved in the assault on the Director of Aviation Security Services (AVSEC) at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos within 14 days.
The unions, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), have also called for a clear definition of the duties and roles of Custom officers in bonded warehouses in civil aviation, as well as a reduction in the number of Custom officers operating in civil aviation, in line with global standards.
The unions’ demands come after the latest incident of assault on an AVSEC officer, which has sparked outrage among aviation workers.
According to the unions in a statement signed by its branch secretaries in FAAN, comrades John Ogbe, Agbor John and Emmanuel Okon, the Director of AVSEC was attacked by Custom officers at the MMA, the latest in a string of incidents involving security personnel at the airport.
In the statement, the unions expressed their deep concern over the increasing number of assaults on aviation personnel by security agencies.
“The attention of aviation unions in FAAN has been drawn to yet another assault on the personnel of the organization by the Nigeria Custom Services (NCS), this time a high-level officer, the Director, Aviation Security Services at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA)”.
The unions have also called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) management to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with all paramilitary agencies in the airports, defining scope, roles, and responsibilities.
As failure to meet these demands within the 14-day deadline, the unions warned, may lead to industrial unrest and disruption of air travel services.
This latest incident is not an isolated case. In recent months, there have been several reports of alleged assaults and harassment of aviation personnel by security officers at the airport.
In one incident, a security officer was accused of physically assaulting a passenger at the airport, sparking widespread outrage.