Aviation workers have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the removal of the Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This comes in response to an alleged assault on Igbafe Afegbai, the Director of Security at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The unions have called on President Bola Tinubu to redeploy all Customs officers involved in the incident. The ultimatum began on March 7, 2025, and will expire on March 21.
In their statement, the workers expressed concerns over what they termed the overreach and misconduct of Customs Service officers, with unions such as the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals taking a unified stand.
The unions are also advocating for a reduction in Customs personnel at airports nationwide, particularly in Lagos, to align with international standards. In a joint letter, they accused the Customs officers of misconduct towards a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police during the altercation.
Should the Customs officers not be redeployed within the stipulated timeframe, the unions warned of potential disruptions within the aviation sector, specifically at the Lagos airport. They urged FAAN to promptly establish a Memorandum of Understanding with all paramilitary agencies operating at airports to define roles and responsibilities clearly.
The unions condemned the recent attack on the FAAN Director of Aviation Security Services, stating that such incidents are becoming increasingly common. They clarified that FAAN’s role within passenger and cargo terminal management is well-defined in the establishing act.
Afegbai confirmed the alleged incident, stating that he and other senior FAAN staff were at the airport to replace a malfunctioning security machine temporarily removed from Enugu airport. Customs officers contested the legitimacy of the machine, prompting escalated enforcement actions against Afegbai and his team.
A spokesperson for Customs addressed the situation without commenting on the assault allegations, highlighting the agency’s purpose within licensed bonded warehouses while reaffirming its dedication to operational cooperation.
The NCS emphasized its commitment to maintaining robust inter-agency relationships to enhance trade facilitation and ensure compliance with operational protocols, aiming to prevent future incidents.
