The Nigeria Customs Service has promised to investigate recent alleged assault on personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
After the high media attention which the incident attracted, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi and the Managing Director of FAAN; Engr Saleh Dunoma last week led a delegation of both agencies to a meeting.
The Nigeria Customs Service has promised to investigate recent alleged assault on personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
After the high media attention which the incident attracted, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi and the Managing Director of FAAN; Engr Saleh Dunoma last week led a delegation of both agencies to a meeting.
In a statement issued yesterday and jointly signed by the spokespersons of Customs and that of FAAN; Mr Yakubu Dati and Wale Adeniyi respectively, the two Chief Executives were said to have regretted the incident.
“The two Chief Executives expressed regrets over the incidence of 3rd June 2015 and agreed to work together to avoid future occurrence”, the statement confirmed.
The statement specifically said that “the Comptroller General of Customs will investigate the involvement of Customs Officers in the fracas and will take appropriate punitive action if they are found guilty”.
Apart from the investigation, the Customs boss has also promised to “review current deployments at MMIA, to ensure that only officers who meet the requirements of civility are retained”, the statement disclosed.
The joint meeting reportedly reviewed the facts of the event and resolved to maintain periodic consultations to facilitate airport security.
On its part the FAAN was reported to have also given assurances that henceforth, it “will not restrict the movement of Customs Officers deployed at the airport, but will continue to manage access control to ensure airport security in line with global standards’.
The two CEOs also undertook that “operations in the Airports will be guided by strict adherence to processes and procedures established by the Law” and that “current conflicts in the enabling Acts of the two organizations will be harmonized through a joint legal committee in line with International Best Practice”.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that eight security officers of FAAN were beaten-up by some men of the Customs officers.
The security personnel under the Aviation Security (AVSEC), the security arm of FAAN, were assaulted while carrying out routine air traffic duties at the airport’s departure hall.
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