The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko, has directed the re-opening of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Limited Warehouse at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Dikko gave the directive in a statement made available to aviation correspondents at the airport.
The warehouse was closed on November 19, following a clash between customs men and members of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents at the airport.
It will be recalled that the NCS had alleged that the clearing agents were unruly and that they man-handled the Customs Area Comptroller, Taju Olarenwaju, during an inspection tour the warehouse.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, warned that the ministry would not tolerate the unruly behaviour meted to a Federal Government agency operating at the airport.
Vehicular traffic had been on the increase at the cargo complex while some motorists had failed to display their identities to security agents at the main entrance.
However, business activities were yet to begin as only a few clearing agents were seen hanging around the warehouse.
Security operatives, including customs and policemen, were still manning the gate leading into the terminal building and some offices.
A long queue of vehicles could be seen at the entrance of the main gate being checked by security agents.
A cargo operator, Shared Aiyegbusi, told NAN that he was glad the government reopened the warehouse for business activities.
Aiyegbusi said that this was not a good time for his colleagues and government to have dispute with the year coming to an end and both parties needing to generate revenue.
Aiyegbusi advised his colleagues to respect procedures laid down by the NCS and operate in harmony with other agents.
A senior official of NAHCO, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to NAN that the warehouse had been re-opened, saying that the company would soon issue a statement.
The official promised that goods abandoned at the warehouse during the period of closure would not enter demurrage because the warehouse was closed by the government as against the clearing agents.
The official said that the Federal Government and other stakeholders might have lost huge sum of money as a result of the closure.