Page 16 - LUA September - October 2023 Magzter

COUNTRY REPORT

Prototype of recently completed cargo terminals by FAAN

Nigeria looks to

CARGO INFRASTRUCTURE TO

BOLSTER AIR FREIGHT EXPORT

well packaged, processed and certified to
There is a growing demand in Nigeria to make its produce meet the destination standards. We have
export worthy by following global standards. A step like this is the capacity,” he stated.
According to him, “FAAN is highly
going to improve Nigeria’s exports by air and eventually calls committed to being a big player in this
for better air cargo infrastructure, reports Roy Ezze. money-spinning business.

Avia-cargo is a big business that
viation experts in Nigeria gathering for traceability of products and combines speed and efficiency in delivery.”
have outlined new strategies produces will be tackled and surmounted.” Quoting the International Air Transport
to overcome the bottlenecks Though some experts questioned Association, he said, “Air cargo transports
Ainhibiting air cargo development the move to set up the cargo village over US $6 trillion worth of goods annually,
and export in Nigeria. The experts who at a time the country needed to focus accounting for approximately 35% of world
brainstormed at a recent air cargo and urgently on increasing cargo production, trade by value”.
agriculture production development standardisation, and accessibility in He said: “In the first half of 2021, a
event in Lagos titled Chinet Aviation & remote areas, Mohammed noted that the total of 16.7 metric tonnes of cargo was
Cargo Conference emphasized the need development of the project will be driven exported through our airports. And the
to standardise Nigerian products for through a public-private partnership same period in 2022, a total of 17.7 was
export. The government has also taken (PPP). “This feat will be replicated in other exported, leading to a 6.2% increase from
the decision to build new cargo villages in international airports and cargo airports” the 2021 export figure.”
various locations in Nigeria to enhance air in Nigeria to address the issue of supply However, in the same period in
cargo export. chain. He said all hands must be on deck to 2023, a total of about 12.9 metric tons
The Managing Director of the Federal fast-track the projects,” he said. According was airlifted leading to a further drop
Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to him also, FAAN recently completed the of 29.5%, the recently appointed MD/
Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, said FAAN construction of “modern cargo terminals CEO of FAAN revealed, noting further
performed a ground-breaking ceremony in all our International Airports.” that the decline was due to “volatility
for the first air cargo village in Lagos. He called for investments in public- resulting from supply chain constraints
Mohammed further noted that “the private partnerships to bolster the 13 cargo and evolving economic conditions,” as
Aviation Cargo Village is strategically airports operated by FAAN. “FAAN needs was also reported by IATA data for global
located opposite our cargo terminal along the partnership of the private sector to air cargo markets in 2022.
MMIA Expressway, and sits on 27,357.137 really provide the necessary infrastructure To mitigate this reduction in cargo,
square metres.” He explained that “in that will make these airports truly cargo Mohammed stated that FAAN set up an
this Avia-cargo village, the challenges facilitating airports,” he submitted. Avia-Cargo Committee in December
of produce processing, packaging, “Our fresh organic produce like cashew, 2022to to “chart an implementable way
certification, laboratory services, data avocado, exotic flowers, yams, etc. must be forward for Nigeria to take the rightful

14 LUA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2023