By Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (nahco aviance) has engaged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCD) to beef security around its warehouse at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.
The company’s head, corporate services, Mr. Bashir Ahmed Gulma, explained that the deployment of NSCDC operatives was prompted by the disagreement between Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and licenced agents in November last year.
Gulma said the disturbance forced government to shut operations at the cargo terminal for about two weeks.
He also said that armed operatives of the NSCDC had since January taken up positions in various sections of the terminal.
“They would have the responsibility to further enhance the security of the terminal. The operatives who are about 25 in number would complement other security arrangements already put in place by nahco aviance which also has a subsisting memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Air Force.
“Nahco aviance will do all it takes to ensure that the terminal is sanitized in line with the stakeholders agreement of December 2014. The deployment of civil defence officers in several areas of operations 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 NCS,” he said.
Gulma further explained that the civil defence personnel would be confined only within the company’s operational areas stressing that the entrance to the gate of terminal called Hajj Camp is not one of those areas.