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By Chinelo Obogo
In a bid to boost Nigeria’s air cargo sector, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched a pilot project to test the air cargo pathway across four key airports in the country. The selected airports are Lagos, Kano, Enugu and Jos.
This initiative was launched during a meeting with the enlarged Aviacargo Roadmap Committee in Lagos recently where the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, called for an accelerated implementation of the Aviacargo Roadmap and emphasised the government’s priority on air cargo.
The meeting, the first for the enlarged committee in over 10 months, marked a renewed commitment from FAAN to the project as the Committee Coordinator, Ikechi Uko, briefed Kuku on progress made so far and thanked her for the opportunity to meet with the team.
This strategic move in launching a pilot project, aims to streamline the air cargo process and facilitate the export of Nigerian goods and will involve a comprehensive collaboration with various stakeholders within the ecosystem, including government agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Nigerian Customs Service.
To expedite the implementation of the pilot projects, a subcommittee comprising representatives from these agencies has been established. This committee is tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the process, with a strict deadline of two weeks to submit its recommendations.
Prior to the meeting with the MD, the committee recognised the efforts of the Director of Cargo Development and Services, Lekan Thomas, in implementing action plans to improve cargo terminal operations.
Established in December 2022, the Aviacargo Roadmap aims to elevate Nigeria’s air cargo position from fifth to first in Africa. The project faced disruptions due to leadership changes at FAAN, with Kuku assuming office in December 2023. Despite these challenges, FAAN established a new Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, implementing some committee recommendations.
