By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

The Comptroller – General of  Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) Dikko  Inde Abdullahi has explained why he ordered the closure of the two cargo warehouses operated by the  Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, and the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company, NAHCo, Plc at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

Speaking through the Customs Public Relations Officer, Airport Command, Thelma Williams, the Comptroller-General  said that the service approved the closure of the two warehouses after series of meetings with the various key players in the aviation warehouse business failed to yield positive results.

Abdullahi  also said the improper documentation on the part of the ground handlers led to massive revenue loss for the government, which he said the service would seek to address before the re-opening of the warehouses.

Also,  Thelma Williams cited sections 145(1) (b) and 5 of the customs and excise management Act for its action.  She also added that lack of proper documentation, non-compliance with customs procedure and attendant loss of revenue accruable to the Federal Government as well as its national security implications forced the action of the service. The closure according to her is a fall out of series of meetings between the Customs Area Comptroller Mohammed Dahiru Umar with all Stakeholders, including cargo agents and freight forwarders association.

She said the command acted on the approval of the comptroller general in line with the statutory powers conferred on the Nigeria Customs Service as provided under  sections 145(1) (b) and 5 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN 2004, (as amended) and other extant regulations.