NAHCO Deploys Civil Defence For Terminal Security

The Nigerian Aviation
Handling Company Plc (nacho aviance) has drafted officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to man its operations at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Mahammed International Airport, Lagos.
The company said the deployment of the NSCDC operatives was sequel to the fracas between men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and licenced agents in November last year, which led to the closure of the cargo terminal for about two weeks by the federal government.
Armed operatives of the NSCDC had since January been on surveillance at various sections of the terminal to further enhance the security of the terminal.
The operatives who are about 25 in number would complement other security arrangements already in place by the ground handler, who also has a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Air Force.
According to the head, corporate services nacho aviance, Mr Bashir Ahmed Gulma, nacho aviance would do all it takes to ensure that the terminal is sanitised in line with the stakeholders agreement of December 2014.
“The deployment of civil defence operatives in several areas of operation is just one in our series of efforts to ensure that the cargo terminal meets international requirements. We are committed to fulfilling our own part of the agreement we have with the Nigeria Customs Service,” Gulma said.
Head, corporate services further explained, the civil defence operatives would be confined only to NAHCO’s operational areas but the entrance to the gate of terminal called Hajj Camp is not one of those areas.
He disclosed that the company had provided two brand new Hilux vehicles which the NSCDC would use to patrol the area. Also the company in conjunction with FAAN is working on the On Duty Card (ODC) for the operatives so as to grant them access to the tarmac.
Security at the cargo terminal had become a trending issue in recent times as stakeholders continue to complain about the seeming inability of relevant authorities to adequately secure the cargo terminal.
It would be recalled that the alleged unruly behaviour of some agents who operate in the cargo terminal prompted the closure of the terminal in November last year after some of them reportedly manhandled the Customs Area Commander (CAC) at the time, Mr. Tajudeen Olanrewaju.