Clash at Lagos Airport: Customs Detain Security Director Amid Tensions

Following a disagreement between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), a dramatic armed confrontation broke out at the NAHCO Shed of the Hajj/Cargo Terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday, March 6.

The dispute swiftly intensified into a drawn-out and uncomfortable altercation.

Events in Timeline

Around 2:30 p.m., Afegbai Albert Igbafe, FAAN's Director of Aviation Security Services, was overseeing the installation of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) devices, which are essential equipment for improving airport security, when the confrontation started.

According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, Igbafe identified himself as the Director of FAAN's Aviation Security Services and made it apparent why they were there, stating that the installation of the ETD machines was a standard security measure.

But in a blatant act of ineptitude, armed customs officers on the scene detained the director inside the NAHCO Shed without first confirming his name or claim, claiming they had not been informed about the equipment and had the necessary authorization to install it.

Igbafe then requested support, and an armed FAAN unit showed up. A heated standoff that lasted for hours resulted from Customs calling in reinforcements from their barracks in Ikeja, which further inflamed the situation.

Conflicts over Jurisdiction

This is not the first occasion that customs officials have reportedly said, "this is Customs’ airport; we own it, and we can do and undo."

They argued that the airport falls under their control, a claim FAAN officials dismissed as baseless. “The Nigerian Customs Service is merely a security agency; the airport and its operations are managed and controlled by FAAN,” a FAAN official clarified.