The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), a Federal Government body, is determined to improve the country’s contribution to cargo exports by establishing a committee to investigate bottlenecks in the sub-sector.
Mr. Ikechi Uko, the organizer of the CHINET, Aviacargo Conference, inaugurated FAAN’s ‘Aviacargo and Coordinated’ committee in December 2022.
Uko admonished the committees at their inauguration on Tuesday in Lagos to be dedicated to their jobs to expand air cargo exports and place Nigeria on the map as a key hub of air freight movement in Africa.
The committee began deliberations and met several times to analyze areas where problems and impediments to increasing air cargo movement exist.
The purpose of establishing the Aviacargo committee by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu was to build on the results and suggestions of the Chinat Aviacargo Conference, which took place in September 2021.
The Committee, comprised of significant players in the air cargo export eco-system, convened and determined that it would be prudent to have experts in air cargo export drive the process.
To that aim, the coordinator, Uko, has formed three sub-committees, each with a chairman and co-chairmen, as well as terms of reference and timelines for compiling their findings, challenges, and solutions.
Airport, Export, and Cargo committees have been formed.
In his introductory remarks, Uko stated that Nigeria could rise from fifth place on the continent to displace Kenya, which is currently the number one aviation freight hub, provided all hands were on deck.
He stated that current figures suggest that Nigeria imports more than it exports, a trend that is harming the country’s economy.
According to him, this imbalance could be corrected because Nigeria has busy airports, freight and passengers, a huge population, wealthy investors, and Africa’s largest economy.
To capitalize on these benefits, subcommittees have been formed to identify the variables surrounding and inhibiting the expansion of aviacargo (collate the factors), Make a list of the variables and limitations, as well as the percentage of influence for each identified factor and restriction.
