FAAN moves to ease cargo operations, introduces access control system

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is implementing initiatives aimed at easing cargo operations at Nigerian airports and eliminating hindrances to movement of goods.
 

FAAN’s Director of Cargo Development and Services, Mr Lekan Thomas, gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ engagement with customs-licensed agents, on Wednesday in Lagos.
 
Thomas said the measures included introduction of a truck call-up system, improved access control, designation of parking areas for cargo trucks, and expansion of warehouse capacities.
 
He also said that the authority was aiming for stronger coordination among government agencies, ground handlers and others operating within airport cargo terminals.
 
Thomas said that creation of the FAAN Directorate of Cargo Development and Services reflected the authority’s renewed focus on using air cargo to facilitate trade and economic growth.
 
He said the initiative was also in line with the Federal Government’s ambition of building a trillion dollar economy.
 
He said that air cargo had a critical role to play in expanding Nigeria’s trade and export potential.
 
According to him, FAAN has been engaging stakeholders, including ground handlers, freight forwarders, Nigeria Customs Service and trade associations, to identify challenges affecting cargo operations.
 
Thomas said that FAAN was also working with ground handlers to expand cargo-handling capacity and developing facilities to accommodate increasing freight volumes.
 
He said that updated standard operating procedures had been issued to ground handlers as part of efforts to replace informal practices with more structured and efficient cargo operations.
 
Thomas said that FAAN was identifying designated holding and parking areas for trucks while introducing a call-up system to prevent vehicles from occupying access roads and obstructing cargo movement.
 
He added that the authority was developing an access-control system under which personnel working within cargo terminals would be properly verified and documented.
 
He said the documentation process would be in collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
 
Thomas said the onboarding process for new personnel was also being digitised to make registration faster and more efficient.
 
He said that FAAN was establishing Memoranda of Understanding with government agencies operating within the terminals to improve coordination and ensure that the facilities would be used primarily for cargo operations.
 
Thomas said FAAN was placing greater emphasis on strengthening Nigeria’s export capacity, particularly by improving the quality and packaging of products meant for international markets.
He said the authority was working with trade associations to provide packaging training and improve standards.
 
Thomas said that Nigeria’s exports must meet international requirements to enable the country to compete effectively in the global market.
 
“Our goal is not to create bottlenecks, but to empower your businesses to grow and generate more revenue through efficient trade facilitation,” Thomas said.
 
Thomas said FAAN had identified operational and infrastructural gaps affecting cargo trade and that measures to address the gaps had resulted in significant improvements in revenue collection.
 
He said the authority would continue to engage operators and other stakeholders to ensure that its reforms would address challenges confronting the air cargo industry.

The General Manager of Cargo Development and Services at FAAN, Mrs Rekiya Alao-Mamman, said that the meeting was to make the agents to embrace the new initiatives by the authority.
 
She said, “This is to let you know that we are committed and open to work with you.”

Mr Arewa Olatokunbo, the FAAN Airport Manager at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, said that the Palace Gate (Second Gate) at the airport would be opened to tackle growing traffic at the terminal.
 
Olatokunbo said that the engagement was to keep stakeholders abreast of developments around the cargo terminal.
 
The Terminal Manager, Hajj and Cargo at the airport, Mr Alale Adebayo, said that the engagement was necessary to enable agents to know how their investments in cargo terminals were being made.

The Head of Department, Cargo, at the airport, Mr John Ogbe, told the agents that they had a responsibility to ensure that re-opening of the second gate would not constitute nuisance for travellers and other road users.

It was reported that some agents complained that they received less than the number of toll-gate stickers they requested for.

They asked for redesigning of car parks to accommodate more cars belonging to the agents.

The FAAN management promised that the concerns of the agents would be looked into.