NAHCO Was Closed For Safety And Economy Reasons
Nigerian Custom Services NSC, MMIA Command has given non-compliance of set down regulations as the reason for the closure on wednesday of two cargo warehouses at the airport. Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO were forcefully closed on Wednesday.
According to our correspondent who was at the press briefing at the airport in Lagos, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Thelma Williams, said that the Comptroller General of NCS, Dikko Abdullahi, approved the closure based on the inability of the warehouses to explain the exit of goods without proper documentation. A procedure which is described as a security risk and also dangerous to the economy.
Other reasons according to Williams includes inability to produce customs release documentation and evidence of payment of import duty and other statutory charges by the companies. This is a follow up to series of meetings between the Customs Area Comptroller, Mohammed Umar with all stake holders, including cargo agents and freight forwarders association.
The command acted on the approval of the Comptroller General, in line with the statutory powers conferred on the Nigeria Customs Service.
“The refusal of the companies to comply has brought about unconducive working environment in these warehouses. This militates against officers and men of the command discharging their statutory duties effectively,” she said.
The Head, Corporate Communications of NAHCO, Adesanya Onayoade, noted that the Customs has temporarily closed the customs-bond warehouse.
Mr. Onayoade said that the closure was to enable a sanitisation exercise that would ultimately improve service delivery and block all revenue leakages.
The Head, Corporate Communications, SAHCOL, Basil Agboarumi, confirmed the closure.
“No doubt that we are custodians of the warehouse but no goods can move out of our warehouse without the approval of the Customs. Discussions are going on between the handling companies, Custom Licensed Agents and the Customs,” he said.