By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

Members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANCLA, at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have stopped clearing cargoes at the airport. This is to avoid a face off with the security agents, who the President of the Association said have been mandated by Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,to throw them out of the Cargo village of the Airport where they currently operate.

To avoid possible loss of life, the National President of Association of Nigerian License Custom Agents , ANCLA, Prince Olayinwola Shittu told newsmen  that members of his Association have been asked to stay out of the cargo village for now until the problem of forceful ejection by FAAN is resolved.

According to Prince Shittu ‘’Like you have heard, there was a directive to Nacho that they should  evacuate every body present at the cargo area including license custom agents who are legitimately carrying out their official duty, from past precedence of violence that occurred when similar issue happen here, our members decided not to come to the area to avoid the threat of mass arrest, mass attack and whatever, it is very important to note that our people did that in order to avert violence and violent reaction.’’

Prince Shittu said members believe that FAAN management may have been misled by his operational people to give the blanket directive. The airport community, Shittu said, does not comprise of only licenced custom agents, there are also other people including food vendors, concessionaires that are at the Airport who could be victims of the directives if enforced.

The custom agents bemoan the revenue government is loosing by their not working, because they generate revenue for government.