L-R: Mr. Shalangwa (FAAN); Ayo Ife Lewis of Greater Washington; Hycienth Ngwu (FAAN); Alex Nwuba, President Aircraft Owners Association; Sadiku Rafindadi Director (FAAN); Kingsley Nwokoma, President AFARN; Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, MD FAAN; Ikechi Uko, organiser CHINET; Obiora Udoyen (FAAN)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is set to place Nigeria’s name on the number one list of countries in the efficient and effective facilitation of cargo through its airports.
Apart from this, FAAN is also eyeing increased tons of cargo as it projects 25% on year-on year incremental basis, to be ranked first or second in Africa by or before the year 2027.
To achieve this feat, the Managing Director, FAAN, has assembled highly experienced Professionals in the Cargo value chain that will drive the development of an implementable Aviation Cargo Road Map.
Among them are, Mr. Ikechi Uko, organizer, CHINET Aviation Cargo conference appointed as the coordinator. Others are, Mr. Shalangwa (FAAN); Ayo Ife Lewis of Greater Washington; Hycienth Ngwu (FAAN); Alex Nwuba, President Aircraft Owners Association; Sadiku Rafindadi Director (FAAN); Kingsley Nwokoma, President AFARN; Obiora Udoyen (FAAN).
According to Capt. Yadudu at the inauguration of the committee to handle this assignment, the idea is to address the challenges identified to be hindering FAAN’s capacity in processing enough Cargo freighting at Airports.
”These challenges were articulated in the Communique issued at the end of the first Aviation and Cargo Conference in 2021, codenamed “CHINET ’21 and reechoed in CHINET 2022”.
He said, the Aviation Roadmap is geared towards addressing the identified challenges with a view to moving the cargo business from the level it is currently, to a desired sustainable level in the short- to long-term.
”It is our belief that your road map guideline will be able to address the ways by which our aviation cargo processing and facilitation will increase in volumes to rank us among the first or at least the second in Africa before or by the year 2027″.
“Currently, we are in the fifth position in Africa, having facilitated only 204, 649 Tons of Cargo in 2021. The first airport, facilitated only 363,204 Tons in the same year. And in Domestic Cargo we facilitated only 8,895 Tons in 2021”.
Capt. Yadudu listed the committee’s terms of reference to include to articulate, action plans that meet international best practice and assign timelines for facilitation of cargo processing at our airports, guidelines that meet international best practice for Public-Private Partnership in developing modern cargo infrastructures and facilities for optimum air-cargo facilitation that meets destination Country’s standard.
Others are to articulate, programs and incentives that will encourage mass participation of local airlines in domestic cargo facilitation, mechanisms that will bridge the Turn-around time in cargo facilitation, solutions to lack of adequate insurance coverage in the cargo value chain and any other suggestions that may help us achieve the desired goal in cargo business in our airports.
The committee is expected to get it report ready within the first quarter of 2023.
