The cargo clearance at MMIA causes great challenges for foreigners who are participating in the Lagos International Trade Fair.

Nov.6 (PREMIUM TIMES) —Custom officers at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos allegedly delay clearance of items at the airport in order to pilfer.

This allegation has been made by some Indians who have had to cargo their products through the airport for the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair.

The Indian exhibitors say the process of clearance moves with the speed of a snail forcing loss of items in the process.

The Executive Officer, Confederation of Indian Industry, Iftikhar Ali, on Tuesday said the MMIA airport “needs to be improved for easy access to goods after necessary custom duties have been paid and theft of goods addressed.’’

“After paying all the customs duties, my goods were not released for days and this made me not to sell my items since the fair started.

“I started selling today, the fifth day of the fair and I am not impressed with the delay by the customs officials at the airport,’’ Mr, Ali said.

An Indian fabric merchant, Rajiv Agrawal, said that due to delay in clearance, some of his goods were pilfered.

“Some of my items were torn and some fabrics stolen at the cargo airport. I am not happy about the situation,’’ he said.

Mr. Agrawal in his assessment said that the trade fair is generally good, adding that visitors to the fair were buying the fabrics in large quantity.

He said that he had sold up to six bundles of the fabrics within two days.

Mr. Agrawal said that the organisers of the trade fair should learn from other countries when organising the next fair to make the place more conducive for sellers.

He complained about lack of air-conditioners, fans, ventilation.

The Indian urged the organisers to put most of the necessary facilities in place.