The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has warned the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) against security breaches at the nation’s airport, saying the privilege of bearing firearms by the personnel has become a recurrent threat to safety, security, staff, and its operations.
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu in a press release, made available to newsmen in Lagos, said a convoy belonging to the Customs Area Controller, Hajj and Cargo Terminal, breached security screening and allegedly assaulted an on-duty Aviation Security (AVSEC) official.
Yakubu said the privilege of bearing firearms by the NCS has become a recurrent threat to the Safety and Security of our Staff and our operations.
She lamented that the possession of firearms by the NCS operatives gave them the power to threaten armless Aviation Security officials who always challenge them to abide by the laid down rules and regulations.
Mrs. Yakubu contended that what would have happened if the Aviation Security officials also carry arms like the NCS operatives
She explained, “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.
“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,” Yakubu said in the statement.
She, however, urged stakeholders and other security operatives at the airports to be disciplined and professional in their conduct,
“This blatant abuse of the privilege of bearing firearms by the NCS has become a recurrent threat to the Safety and Security of our Staff and our operations.”
“While we keep on working to resolve all our challenges decisively, we hereby urge all stakeholders to please respect our mandate by being of disciplined and Professional conduct in the interest of national security and operational safety,” she warned.
