The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr Kabir Yusuf Muhammed has called for the partnership of the private sector to really provide the necessary infrastructure that will make the Airports truly cargo facilitating airports.
Speaking at the just concluded CHiNET Aviacargo Conference held at Marriott Hotel in Lagos, organised by Mr. Ikechi Uko, Kabir Yusuf disclosed that the Directorate of Commercial and Business Development is ever-ready to facilitate this symbiotic relationship.
Kabir Yusuf who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs/Consumer Protection of FAAN, Mr Abdullahi Yakubu Funtua expressed optimism that with proper partnership, it can leverage on the land mass available in its airports, and establish world-class cargo facilities to further enhance cargo facilitations.
FAAN MD stated further that the development will be driven through a public private partnership (PPP) model.
According to him: “Our fresh organic produce like cashew, avocado, exotic flowers, yams, etc must be well packaged, processed and certified to meet the destination standards. We have the capacity.
FAAN is highly committed to being a big player in this money spinning business.
Avia-cargo is a big business that combines speed and efficiency in delivery.
In the first half of 2021, a total of 16.7 metric tons of cargo was exported through our airports. And same period in 2022, a total of 17.7 was exported, leading to 6.2 percent increase from 2021 export figure.
But, in same period in 2023, a total of about 12.9 metric tons was airlifted leading to a further drop by 29.5percent. Why are the figures shrinking?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its data for global air cargo markets, released in July 2022, showed cargo as having “taken a step back compared to the extra-ordinary performance of 2020-2021’.
IATA report blamed the poor performance due to volatility resulting from supply chain constraints and evolving economic conditions. How do we plan to mitigate this?”
He said FAAN in December 2022, assembled the best brains from various aviation cargo private and institutional stakeholders and made them a Avia-Cargo Committee to chart an implementable way forward for Nigeria to take the rightful number one position in Avia-Cargo exports in Africa within the next few years.
FAAN boss stated that the Avia-cargo committee was further charged to find solutions to, bridging the Turn-around time in cargo facilitation, Financing-gaps in building and maintaining modern cargo infrastructure and facilities.
Yusuf identifed some of the challenges militating against the growth of Aviacargo business in the country to include, lack of interest by local airlines in domestic cargo operations,
Lack of adequate insurance coverage in the cargo facilitation, Lack of adequate standardization and certification of cargo items, particularly farm produce, etc
He also identified substandard packaging, processing and traceability challenges among others .
FAAN MD explained that: “Recently, in company of the Avia-cargo committee members, we did a ground-breaking ceremony for the first Aviation Cargo Village in Nigeria
In this Avia-cargo village, the challenges of produce processing, packaging, certification, laboratory services, data gathering for traceability of products and produces will be tackled and surmounted.
This Aviation Cargo Village is strategically located opposite our Cargo terminal along MMIA Expressway, and sits on 27,357.137 square metres .
The development will be driven through a public private partnership (PPP) model.
FAAN MD said the feat will be replicated in other International Airports and Cargo Airports”.
In his words, “I believe that when our Aviation Cargo Village is fully established, we will be able to mitigate the challenges in the supply chain.
All hands must be on deck to fasttrack the Aviation Cargo Village. FAAN is ever ready to partner with you.
Recently, we completed the building of modern cargo terminals in all our International Airports”.
He listed the following as passenger and Cargo Airports: MMIA Lagos, NAIA Abuja, MAKIA, Kano SMICA, Owerri, PHIA, Omagwa, Margarette Ekpo Airport, Calabar, AIIA, Enugu, Makurdi Airport, Minna Airport, Jos Airport, Ilorin Airport, Yola Airport, Kebbi Airport.
Yusuf expressed his belief that the synergy between FAAN and Avia-cargo Committee will quicken the change industry desire to see in Cargo facilitation in Nigeria.
He said the country must export more than she import, adding that, “until this is achieved, our work is half done”.
