Customs hands over seized helicopters to NAF at Lagos airport
The Murtala Muhammed
International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs Service on Friday
handed over two seized civil model Bell helicopters imported into the
country by unknown persons to the Nigerian Air Force.
The NCS said the
helicopters were handed over to NAF for failure by the
yet-to-be-identified importers to produce end user certificate from the
office of the National Security Adviser.
The NCS said this was in
contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management
Act and that the seizure was effected on November 7, 2016 in line with
section 46 of CEMA.
Customs Area Controller,
Frank Allanah, told journalists that the value of the two helicopters
and other accessories was over N9.7bn.
He said, “The
helicopters were flown in as a consignment with Airway Bill Number
17232444403 into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport.
“The choppers were
detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited shed pending
fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation.”
He said the chopper
would be useful to the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against
insurgency as the chopper were specially designed for such operations .
Speaking during the hand
over the chopper , the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique
Abubakar, said the choppers and accessories would be taken to the NAF
hangar at the Lagos Airport for full examination in collaboration with
Customs officials .
He described the handover as a milestone as the configuration of the aircraft was fitted for military combat operations.
He said the handover had presidential approval adding that all legal issues had also been considered.
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