THE Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Licensed Clearing Agents may lose over N50 million daily as revenue over the closure of the cargo terminal of the airport by the Federal Government.
There was pandemonium at the cargo unit of the airport on Wednesday occasioned by a clash between officials of NCS and licensed clearing agents over mode of operations at the bulk breaking area of the cargo terminal.
Addressing journalists yesterday, the Chairman of the Lagos Airport branch of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA), Alloy Emeka Igwe said the N50 million daily loss was the revenue that would have accrued to both the clearing agents and the Customs for clearance of imported and exported goods through the Lagos airport.
He described the closure of the cargo terminal by the Customs as insensitive, since the two parties could resolve the crisis.
He decried the deployment of military personnel to the cargo section of the airport who manhandled clearing agents by shooting sporadically into the air.
According to him the alleged attack on the Customs Area Comptroller of the of the Command was not carried out by licensed clearing agents, affirming that some miscreants could have taken advantage of the crisis between them and Customs personnel to break law and order.
The chairman said the major challenge around the cargo terminal is access control into the cargo area, which is handled by security personnel attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Igwe said:” What happened yesterday at the cargo terminal was a clear case of professional disagreement between the agents and Customs which was not handled well.
“The situation could not have degenerated into the militarisation and sporadic shouting carried in our agents by officials of the Federal Operations Unit, which deployed armed personnel carrier to the airport. “We share our sympathy with the customs comptroller who was allegedly manhandled. We have issues with our operational base, where the exit gate is very porous; there is East access into the terminal, which could have given room to hoodlums to take advantage of the situation to carry out unauthorized activities.
“The said the attack was not carried out by licensed stones, which were said to have thrown stones, and pelted the customs officials with sachet water. Now, everybody is taking advantage of the crisis to blackmail clearing agents.
“We have good working relationship with the Customs management.
The comptroller should know that the crisis is a family matter that could be easily resolved. “The agents did not go beyond the bulk breaking areas. They only stayed at the examination place.”
He described the closure of the cargo warehouse as unnecessary. The consequence of this is that flights are not discharging; clearing agents, customs and ground handling g companies are incurring unquantifiable losses.
The closure is affecting the import of perishable goods, as importers are groaning. This has caused national embarrassment. We are appealing to the Federal Government to open the cargo terminal to avoid further is dues, as they have turned the cargo terminal into a theatre of war.
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