Posted by By Oluseto Olatuyi on
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, on Thursday, ejected persons whose activities at the Murtala Mohammed International cargo.....
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, on Thursday, ejected persons whose activities at the Murtala Mohammed International cargo shed could not be ascertained.
This is preparatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation's audit in November.
The cargo shed has been identified as one of the locations that poses security threat to the airport. It is was a business base for more than 300 customs agents and other illegal occupants.
The illegal occupants were barred from entering the shed by the combined team of aviation security and the police.
They were asked to present 'on duty card" issued by the FAAN before they could be allowed into the shed.
The ejection, however, led to confusion on Airport Road, resulting in heavy traffic.
Commuters on the roads leading to the airport were also stranded. Most of them trekked to their destinations.
The Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agents, Mr. Emmanuel Njoku, however, blamed the FAAN for its inability to issue ODC to everybody at the shed.
They also accused the FAAN of high handedness in carrying out it activities.
He said the ANCLA on several occasions had sought an audience with the management of the FAAN, which they declined.
Meanwhile, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Adeniyi Ajaikaye, said the action was meant to streamline the people within the cargo shed in preparation for the ICAO audit.
The illegal structures built within the shed were last December demolished by the FAAN with a promise to rebuild the place for better activities.
However, the place has not been rebuilt and the unpacked debris of the structures provides another save haven for criminal activities.
Ajakaiye said, 'The process is in place to get the rubble out. Let's get the rubble out and we will know what to do. They are not supposed to be there.
'It is difficult to get people to adapt to change. We want to streamline the activities of people that are doing legal business there. They are not the one to dictate to us the pace. What we want is to ensure that we follow the rule."
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority last month mandated the FAAN to clear the mess at the cargo shed.
This, according to NCAA, poses security threat and can affect the performace of the country in the ICAO security follow-up slated for July 24 and 25.