Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving air cargo operations and strengthening collaboration with licensed customs agents as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s air cargo sector.
FAAN is also reworking the operational and regulatory framework for players in the ecosystem to be extract its contribution to the Federal Government’s of $1 trillion economy by 2030.
To drive this initiative, the Federal Government is fine-tuning strategies involving biometric capture of registered players at airports, building a database of opportunities in the sector as well as upgrading the required infrastructure to grow the business.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the FAAN Directorate of Cargo Development and Services in Lagos, Regional General Manager, South West Airports, FAAN, Mr Tokunbo Arewa, said the authority would continue to engage stakeholders to obtain feedback and improve service delivery.
Arewa said the meeting was designed to provide an opportunity for customs agents to raise concerns about the charges they pay and the services provided by the authority.
He said FAAN was interested in knowing whether its operations were meeting stakeholders’ expectations, stressing that the authority did not want to collect charges without demonstrating value for the services provided.
According to him, the engagement would allow stakeholders to understand FAAN’s plans and compare its operations with practices in other parts of the world.
He urged participants to take advantage of the interactive session by asking questions and highlighting areas requiring improvement.
The Terminal Manager, Hajj and Cargo, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Comrade Adedayo Alale, called for stronger interaction between the authority and stakeholders to improve service delivery.
Alale said the engagement was an opportunity for licensed customs agents to provide feedback on the services they receive, particularly as they contribute financially to operations at the airport.
According to him, the objective was to address the concerns raised and strengthen cooperation between the authority and the stakeholders.
Also speaking, the Director, Cargo Development Services, FAAN, Mr Lekan Thomas, said the creation of a dedicated cargo directorate demonstrated the Federal Government’s increased focus on air cargo as a driver of economic growth.
Mr. Thomas explained that cargo services were previously handled as a small unit under the Business and Commercial Directorate before the establishment of the dedicated directorate.
He linked the development to the Federal Government’s broader ambition of growing the Nigerian economy, noting that the aviation cargo sector would play an important role in expanding trade and exports.
Mr. Thomas said the directorate had, over the past three years, identified operational and infrastructural challenges affecting cargo operations and had begun addressing some of the gaps.
He disclosed that efforts to plug operational and revenue leakages had already resulted in significant improvements in FAAN’s revenue, with better operational processes contributing to increases of up to 40 and 80 per cent in some areas.
The Cargo Director said FAAN was also working with relevant government agencies on Memoranda of Understanding to clearly define responsibilities and improve coordination within cargo facilities.
Mr. Thomas said the authority was working to provide appropriate spaces for activities carried out by government agencies within public warehouses, while efforts were also underway to prevent indiscriminate parking around cargo facilities and keep access routes available for cargo operations.
He further disclosed that FAAN was preparing to introduce an access control system, expected to take effect by the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2027.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that only authorised personnel have access to cargo terminals.
He said the documentation process would involve verification with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and other agencies responsible for regulating freight forwarding activities.
Mr. Thomas added that FAAN was working towards digitising the process to make it easier to onboard new employees of licensed companies without repeating the entire documentation process.
He also disclosed that the authority was working on a truck call-up system and seeking additional holding areas for trucks to reduce congestion and improve cargo movement.
The director said FAAN was also engaging ground handling companies on warehouse capacity and other operational challenges, noting that existing facilities were increasingly coming under pressure as cargo volumes grew.
He urged licensed customs agents to improve their knowledge of packaging standards and other requirements necessary for expanding Nigeria’s export market.
FAAN was prepared to support stakeholders he said, with relevant training, stressing that the various initiatives were intended to improve efficiency, facilitate business growth and enable operators to make more profit.
The General Manager, FAAN Cargo Directorate, Mrs Rekia Alao, said the engagement was also aimed at encouraging licensed customs agents to embrace the authority’s digital initiatives and strengthen collaboration across the cargo value chain.
Alao said improved collaboration would contribute to cargo development and reduce cargo dwell time.
She stressed that the engagement would not be a one-off event, adding that FAAN plans to hold similar meetings at least twice a year, or more frequently where necessary.
According to her, regular engagements would enable the authority to understand the challenges confronting customs agents and jointly develop solutions.
She said FAAN was committed to maintaining an open channel of communication with licensed customs agents as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a major hub for air cargo business.
The Head, Cargo Department, FAAN, John Ogbe, also highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements at the cargo terminal, including road rehabilitation, street lighting, deployment of CCTV cameras and construction of additional toilet facilities.
He said the authority was also working on biometric access systems as part of measures to improve security and operational efficiency within the cargo environment.
The stakeholders’ meeting provided a platform for licensed customs agents to raise operational concerns and make recommendations on measures that could improve cargo processing, security, infrastructure and business efficiency at Nigeria’s airports.