An armed standoff occurred on Thursday at the NAHCO Shed of the Hajj/Cargo Terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, following a dispute between the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The incident took place around 2:30pm when FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services, Afegbai Albert Igbafe, was overseeing the installation of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) machines. Customs officials, claiming they had not been informed about the equipment, locked the FAAN security director inside a shed.
“In response, the director called for backup, prompting an armed FAAN unit to arrive. The situation worsened when Customs summoned reinforcements from their Ikeja barracks, creating a volatile standoff that lasted for hours,” a source explained.
During the standoff, Customs officials argued that the airport falls under their control, a claim FAAN officials dismissed as baseless. “The Nigerian Customs Service is merely a security agency; the airport and its operations are managed and controlled by FAAN,” a FAAN official clarified.
This confrontation highlights a longstanding jurisdictional dispute between the two agencies, with FAAN accusing Customs of disregarding aviation protocols. Another source emphasized that Customs’ lack of adherence to these protocols not only undermines operational efficiency but also compromises safety standards at Nigerian airports.
A particularly disturbing aspect of the incident was the alleged assault on FAAN personnel who were recording the altercation with their mobile devices. Witnesses described the attack as unprovoked and reflective of Customs’ disregard for aviation protocols.
This is not the first time tensions have flared between FAAN and Customs. In January 2022, the two agencies engaged in a public dispute after Customs officers allegedly forcefully accessed a restricted area. FAAN accused Customs officers of bypassing security, while Customs contended that the statement demonstrated a lack of understanding of its role.
In 2020, Customs officials were accused of bypassing security checks to facilitate illegal activities, including cash smuggling, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. At the time, NCS had intercepted $8.06 million in cash, which was hidden in six bags and transported in a coaster bus belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
These recurring clashes underscore broader issues of poor inter-agency collaboration and Customs’ frequent disregard for established aviation regulations.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), which owns the NAHCO Shed where the incident took place, claimed they were not informed about the installation of the ETD machines. According to a source, NAHCO aligned with Customs’ claim of inadequate notification to justify their actions.
“Today’s confrontation underscores the deteriorating relationship between the two agencies and raises urgent concerns about Customs’ respect for aviation protocols,” a source said. “These ongoing jurisdictional conflicts pose significant risks to public safety.”
