CG Customs Redeploys Murtala Mohammed Airport Controller;Tajudeen Olarenwaju, Re-opens Cargo Shed
After about three weeks of crises and eventual closure of the two cargo sheds, namely; Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport(MMIA), the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde yesterday ordered that they should be reopened.
But, the casualty appears to be the Customs Area Controller (CAC of the (MMIA); Mr Tajudeen Olarenwaju who have been removed. He has been replaced by the Controller in charge of Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML); Mr Folorunsho Adegoke.
Adegoke will however be replaced by Mrs Tallatu Isa who headed the Lillypond Command of the Customs.
The Customs CG, at a meeting held yesterday with top executives of Federal Airport Authourity of Nigeria, SAHCOL, NAHCOL as well as the association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), and other stakeholders at the airport frowned at the clearing agents' recent unruly behaviour to Comptroller Olarenwaju. The CAC’s redeployment was also announced at the meeting.
He however said that stringent security measures must be maintained to ensure that only genuine licensed agents will be allowed entry into the terminal henceforth.
Dikko warned that any agents found fomenting trouble will be arrested and prosecuted immediately.
Meanwhile leaders of all freight forwarding associations at the command are expected to meet with the new CAC today to be briefed on the new modalities for operation at the command.
However Shipping Position Daily gathered that freight forwarders operating at the airport were instrumental to the redeployment of the Comptroller Tajudeen Olarenwaju
An insider source operating from one of the cargo warehouses at the airport confirmed that the ministry of aviation has been unhappy about the closure of the warehouses for weeks.
Our correspondent also confirmed that, prior to Dikko’s visit yesterday, the Minister of Aviation; Mr Osita Chidoka had also on Tuesday warned that the ministry would not tolerate unruly behaviours to any Federal Government agencies by the cargo agents at the nation’s airports.
Chidoka gave the warning when he addressed aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He said the Nigeria Customs Service had the power to close down any cargo terminal at the airports if the cargo operators disrespect basic rules laid down by the Federal Government.
“I have remained silent on the fracas between the cargo agents and the customs service on the issue of the warehouse closure.
“The customs have the power to close down the terminal. I will not condone unruly behaviours by a group of people.
“If the cargo agents have any differences with the customs, they should go to court to solve it. The group must come under the rules of government,’’ he said.
The minister noted that the Federal Government had invested a lot at the airports and hoped to get a good return from the investment.
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