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Nigerian Customs, FAAN Personnel Clash As Overzealous Customs Agents Lock Up Federal Airport Security Director In Lagos

Customs officials, claiming they hadn't been notified about the equipment, locked the FAAN security director inside a shed. An armed standoff unfolded on Thursday at the NAHCO Shed of the Hajj/Cargo Terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, following a dispute between the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). SaharaReporters learnt that the conflict escalated into a prolonged and tense confrontation.

The incident took place at the NAHCO shed of the Ajantako Terminal around 2:30pm when the FAAN Director of Aviation Security Services, Afegbai Albert Igbafe, was supervising the installation of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) machines, SaharaReporters exclusively gathered.

Customs officials, claiming they hadn't been notified 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 told SaharaReporters.

During the standoff, Customs officials, one of the sources reportedly 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,” the source quoted a FAAN official to have clarified.

The confrontation highlights a longstanding jurisdictional dispute, with FAAN accusing Customs of routinely disregarding aviation protocols. Another source emphasised that Customs' lack of adherence not only undermines operational efficiency but also compromises safety standards at Nigerian airports.

The disturbing part of the entire episode was when Customs officials allegedly assaulted FAAN personnel who were recording the incident with their mobile devices. Witnesses described the attack as unprovoked and reflective of Customs’ disregard for aviation protocols.

SaharaReporters reports that this is not the first time tensions have flared between FAAN and Customs.

In January 25, 2022 SaharaReporters reported how the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service traded words on Twitter over claims that the operatives of NCS forcefully got access to a restricted area.

While FAAN accused customs officers of forcefully gaining entrance into a restricted area, the security agency said the statement showed a lack of understanding of its role.

“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 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,” Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, had said in a statement then.

On February 16, 2020 SaharaReporters exclusively reported how top officials of the Nigerian Custom Service moved cash through the tarmac and bypassed the departure point.

NCS had earlier reportedly intercepted and seized $8.06m at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The hard currency was stashed in six bags and packed inside a coaster bus belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company.

Prior to these incidents, in 2015, Nigerian Customs officers attempted to access the airport tarmac without proper accreditation.
When stopped, they became unruly and assaulted a FAAN security officer. This altercation occurred just as International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) officials were inspecting the airport for a possible upgrade.
These recurring clashes highlight 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 occurred, has claimed that they were not informed about the installation of the ETD machines, another source told SaharaReporters.

According to the source, NAHCO in their reaction, aligned with Customs' claim of inadequate notification, as a justification for the actions

"Today’s confrontation underscores the deteriorating relationship between the two agencies and raises urgent concerns about Customs’ respect for aviation protocols. These ongoing jurisdictional conflicts pose significant risks to public safety."

https://saharareporters.com/2025/03/06/nigerian-customs-faan-personnel-clash-overzealous-customs-agents-lock-federal-airport

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-Two Nigerian Agencies Clash As Airports Authority Lambasts Customs Over Failure To Follow Security Checks.

-EXCLUSIVE: How Nigeria Customs Service Officials Bypass Security Checks At Lagos Airport To Illegally Move Cash For Passengers

-Similarly, in 2020, Customs officials were accused of bypassing security checks to facilitate illegal activities, including cash smuggling.

Same Customs involved in rice and other smuggling corruption along the Badagry - Seme border? This is not a good development for this nation.

All these ego fight is simply because each crooked government organisation is trying to out smart the other.

I believe FAAN should have supreme authority over airports and their facilities. Customs is just a security agency like the police. But of course they are now behaving like the police...

👀🧐🤔

Racoon:
Nigerian Customs, FAAN Personnel Clash As Overzealous Customs Agents Lock Up Federal Airport Security Director In Lagos
https://saharareporters.com/2025/03/06/nigerian-customs-faan-personnel-clash-overzealous-customs-agents-lock-federal-airport

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Two criminal organisations fighting for their pockets. Oga at the top must collect returns.

Everything jagajaga under d jagajaga president

Ok

Two criminal gangs battling for turfs

Ever since Buhari turned the Nigerian Customs into Northern Customs with more than 70% of the recruitment going to the North, the service has completely lost whatever used to its discipline. The operatives have more or less turned into gangsters while their former CG Col. Hamid Ali whom Buhari foisted on the service from retirement embodied the highest level of indiscipline and disrespect to constituted authority by refusing the demand of the NASS for him to both wear the service uniform as well as appear before the legislative house. Everything bothering on impunity and disregard for the law happening today with the customs should not be a surprise to anyone.

Its always Lagos, while in the North you don't hear about the NCS, they're useless over there, borders are porous with bandits and contraband pouring in torrential numbers. Another proof we are under siege. What does customs know about airport management?

Nothing else but money and interest

Racoon:
Same Customs involved in rice and other smuggling corruption along the Badagry - Seme border? This is not a good development for this nation.

Completely hopeless nuisance, can they change ? Sets if national embarrassments

Nigeria is really a zoo

When people are not able to control themselves because their source of kickbacks is about to be checked.

Racoon:
Same Customs involved in rice and other smuggling corruption along the Badagry - Seme border? This is not a good development for this nation.

Which development you dey talk of.
Na so we be.
Na egunje dey cause wahala so.
All Nigerians from he'd to toe dey give and collect egunje

What's actually happening with black people.

Questions begging for answers
.
Why are black people diabolic and wicked??

Why are black people without conscience??

Why are black people very backward, mentally, emotionally and physically??

Why do black people fear industrialization and development??

Why do black people love corruption??

Why can't black man be creative and innovative??

Why do black people hate uninterrupted electricity.

Why do black people hate good roads and clean water??

What's wrong with a black man??

What should Airforce say if customs is claiming superiority?

These customs people are mad honestly.

Fighting over bribe taking territories

Khallicopyro:
I believe FAAN should have supreme authority over airports and their facilities. Customs is just a security agency like the police. But of course they are now behaving like the police...

Lawless nation

Typical Nigerian sham forces.


In an Igbo Nation, the customs will be in charge of searches into and out of an airport. The airport agency, will be in charge of flights and airport infrastructures.

Only in Nigeria, do people not know of most their responsibilities.


I know they can be overlapping responsibility, but I believe in the igbo nation, customs will arrest you if your luggage has contraband things, but if you have weapons on you or if you are disrupting the plane, the airport security will arrest you.


The luggage security equipment both in front and back, should fall under customs. All luggage coming out of, or going into a plane, should go under customs, security equipments and checklist if need be. The only difference is the airport security will be in charge of carry on luggage searches and people searches; That is, the security equipments for luggage and people before boarding and boarding, will be approved by customs, Even logistics equipment for luggage movements in the airport and ports, will be under customs.

car parking, organized flow of movement, waiting areas, pick up areas, infrastructure care, ticket, all security cameras, etc will be under airport staffs. For cameras and security detention, customs will have theirs, and airport security will have theirs, but both will have data back up with state and federal security. For detention, both customs and airport security cannot detain you for more than 24hrs without involving state security and/or the courts.


Kinks like these can be resolved without animalistic ego driven attitudes being displayed.

This one tire me.

Tunbi-Ojo is really working while idiots entrusted with minor tasks are fighting. Tunji-Ojo should ask DSS to lock the two sides up till after Ramadan

Wizardslayer:
What's actually happening with black people.

Questions begging for answers
.
Why are black people diabolic and wicked??

Why are black people without conscience??

Why are black people very backward, mentally, emotionally and physically??

Why do black people fear industrialization and development??

Why do black people love corruption??

Why can't black man be creative and innovative??

Why do black people hate uninterrupted electricity.

Why do black people hate good roads and clean water??

What's wrong with a black man??

Are you black or white? Let's start from there first before I answer your questions

Tenant wan show Landlord doings!

Dem no kari us along - Customs

Racoon:
All these ego fight is simply because each crooked government organisation is trying to put smart the other.

Yes, ego(money) fight. This is not about quality of work or service, but about who go chop more ego!

Dramatic country