Avia-cargo village to reduce Nigeria’s cargo export rejection as FAAN MD, others lay foundation stones

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Mohammed stated that the establishment of an Avia-Cargo Village was identified as one of the quick wins in addressing the rejection of the country’s avia-cargo exports, and thus, increasing exports and earnings.

The 27,357 square metres of land houses motor mechanics, various food vendors, and other businesses.

The country’s quest of generating more income from exporting Nigerian products will continue to be a mirage until the issue of proper weight measurement is adhered to strictly.

He said Nigerian farmers and other producers of goods and services will continue to be shortchanged as a result of not being able to measure their products in the proper way.

One of the main reasons why Nigerian products, yams, beans, and livestock, are been rejected in Europe and America is because Nigeria lacks an internationally recognized National quality infrastructure (NQI) with the capacity to ensure safety, integrity, and marketability of goods and services which reduces technical barriers to trade in local, regional and international markets.

Mohammed spoke at the breaking ceremony of the aviation cargo village situated along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road, Lagos.

He noted that FAAN management was truly determined to implement the recommendation of the Avia-Cargo committee with a view to taking the rightful number one position in Avia-Cargo exports in Africa within the next few years.

His words, “This Aviation Cargo Village will be a one-stop-center aimed at addressing most challenges militating against massive avia-cargo exports in our country. It will have facilities for Cargo processing, packaging, certification, laboratory services, and data gathering for traceability of products and produces among others.”

“You can be assured that in the next few months, cargo planes will be departing from our airports fully loaded with goods that meet destination standards and acceptance. At this point, I want to thank the members of the Avia-cargo Committee under the leadership of Ambassador Ikechi Uko. We are proud of you all. Keep it up!”

It would be recalled that the decision to set up an Avia-Cargo Committee was taken by FAAN Management to address the challenges that hinder Nigeria’s capacity to process enough cargo in airports.

The idea to truly make Nigeria a hub of cargo export has been set in motion as the country jostles to claim the first spot from Kenya which is the leading export nation on the African continent.

The Aviacargo Road Map Committee headed by Uko recently stated that said there was a need to make Nigeria a top cargo export nation because of the huge potential that could make that possible.

With 204, 649 tonnes of cargo, Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, has been ranked among the top five air cargo airports in Africa in 2001 coming behind Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya, with 363, 204 tonnes of cargo, Cairo International Airport, Egypt (333,536 tonnes), Oliver Reginald International Airport, South Africa (304,018) and the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia with 226,417 tonnes of cargo that moved through the aerodromes, according to the Airports Council International statistics.

Wole Shadare