By Chuks Okoh
The Federal Government said Monday that the cargo shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos will remain shut until terminal operators comply with new operational procedures that would not threaten national security and collection of revenue.
The cargo shed was closed last week following violation of procedures by clearing agents at restricted sections of the terminal, which officials of Nigerian Customs Service said constitute grave danger to security of the airports and the fiscal policies of government .
Addressing reporters, the Customs Area Comptroller, in charge of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Mr Taju Olarenwaju said government has directed officials to identify and allow passage for perishable goods , medical goods and diplomatic goods , which have remained trapped due to the crisis .
Olarenwaju said through the command’s internal check measures, goods that fall into the specialised category : perishable; medical and diplomatic would be isolated for facilitation, such that the importers do not suffer from the infraction caused by clearing agents, who are not ready to comply with operational procedures .
He warned that the Nigeria Customs Service have the capacity to crush any violator, who as saboteurs and terrorists are set to threaten national security and the collection of revenue for government .
He said government in respect for international trade regulations would not want to close cargo warehouses at the airport, but it is constrained to take the decision because clearing agents have demonstrated that they are not ready to comply with regulations .
Speaking further,he said previous agreements signed with the agents in the past have failed as they have consistently violated rules of engagement and procedures at the cargo terminal, which restricts access to some part of the cargo terminal .
He averred that risk management measures have been put in place to isolate goods that are in the category to be facilities, such that innocent importers are not allowed to suffer from the infraction occasioned by the conduct of clearing agents .
Olarenwaju further said that the customs would not allow operations at the cargo shed , where there are obvious operational lapses on the part of terminal managers, which undermine national security and efforts to collect revenue for government .
He said the Customs has put in place maximum measures to ensure terminal operators comply with operational rules .
He said :” Terminal operators and clearing agents are taking our efforts for granted . It has become increasingly insecure to carry out business at the cargo section of the airport because of the activities of agents who through their collective actions continue to threaten national security .They have shown that they are economic saboteurs , terrorists who threaten the security of the airport and the Nigerian Customs Service will not fold its hands and allow this . We would stand to our responsibility and not allow terminal operators carry out this illegality . Anybody that stands on our way , we have capacity to crush any resistance that jeopardises national security . The agents have displayed lack of capacity to enforce the new regulations in sensitive areas where cargo is kept at the airport . The warehouse remains shut,until the agents and terminal managers show capacity to operate without threat to security .”
On the attack of its officials and destruction of public property by clearing agents, the Customs Comptroller said :” As a law enforcement agency , the crisis is injurious to the economy . We would not allow the system to collapse or a bomb blast to occur. Or for the revenue collection of government to decline .the cargo shed will remain shut to ensure compliance with new terminal procedure .
