Three major aviation unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding the immediate redeployment of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers involved in the alleged assault of the Director of Aviation Security Services (AVSEC) at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
The unions—Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP)—also called for a clearer definition of Customs officers’ roles in bonded warehouses and a reduction in their presence in civil aviation, aligning with global best practices.
The demand follows growing concerns over repeated incidents of security personnel assaulting aviation staff. In a statement signed by FAAN branch secretaries John Ogbe, Agbor John, and Emmanuel Okon, the unions condemned the latest attack on the AVSEC Director as part of a disturbing pattern.
They urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with paramilitary agencies to clearly define their scope of operations. Failure to meet their demands, they warned, could lead to industrial action and disruptions to air travel.
The incident adds to a series of reported cases of harassment and physical assault of aviation workers by security officers at Nigerian airports, prompting widespread calls for stricter regulations and accountability.
