By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Ministries of Transportation and Agriculture and Rural Development are expected to harmonise positions to resolve the disagreement between Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services.
Both agencies operate at airports across the country.
Currently they disagreed over the decision by FAAN to relocate NAQS from arrival and departure points at airports to cargo terminal in compliance with the provisions of the Executive Orders.
Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the NAQS had refused to move to its new post.
Yakubu said the disagreement would be handled by the two supervising ministries, to bring about harmony between FAAN and NAQS since both agencies were out to serve the interest of the same government.
She added that the notice was not meant to sabotage the function of any agency but to ensure effective implementation of the Federal Government’s new Executive Orders.
“The matter will be handled by the two ministries of Agriculture and Transportation.
“The two ministers will discuss and settle the matter because both FAAN and Quarantine Services are working for the same country and government,’’ she said.
FAAN had on Friday announced new operational modalities among agencies operating at the airports, relocating the various agencies to their new areas of operation.
The agencies include the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS); Nigeria Customs Services (NCS); National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); State Security Services (SSS); Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS).
FAAN disclosed that both NIS and NDLEA would operate at the terminals’ arrivals and departures, while the Customs will operate at the arrival only.
The notice added that the DSS, Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and NAQS were to operate at the Cargo Terminals only.
In reaction to the notice, NAQS argued that the decision was at variance with paragraph 20 of the executive order, saying it was not addressed to any government agencies.
Mr Vincent Iseghe, Coordinating Director of NAQS, said the public notice by FAAN was an “antithesis’’ to the executive order and called for its modification, especially as it concerns NAQS.
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on May 18 signed three orders on ease of doing business in the country.
