Sade Williams/Business a.m.
In a strategic move aimed at strengthening transparency and boosting internally generated revenue (IGR), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), through its Directorate of Cargo Development & Services (DCDS), has secured critical stakeholder alignment to enforce compliance with the payment of FAAN’s statutory port charges at the Pilgrims & Cargo Terminal (PCT) of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The port charge is not new; however, for over 18 years, FAAN has faced challenges in ensuring that this mandatory fee is paid before cargo leaves the warehouses. This has resulted in significant revenue losses over the years.
It led to a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with key representatives from FAAN, NCS, SAHCO (Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc), and NAHCO (Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc) — the two leading ground handling and import-export service providers in the country — in attendance.
Speaking at the meeting, Lekan Thomas, director of cargo development and services at FAAN, reiterated the agency’s readiness to deploy robust access control systems and electronic platforms to ensure compliance without impeding cargo flow. He emphasised that the initiative is designed to enhance accountability while maintaining operational fluidity.
In support of the initiative, Toyin Awe, Customs area comptroller, cargo terminal, MMIA, pledged the full cooperation of the Nigeria Customs Service. He committed to convening shed heads for a formal briefing and facilitating collaboration through an interactive stakeholder forum to ensure smooth implementation.
A statement by the agency responsible for managing federal airports in the country, said the move reflects the visionary leadership of Olubunmi Kuku, its managing director and chief executive, whose commitment to innovation, operational reforms, and revenue optimisation continues to position FAAN as a model of efficiency in Africa’s aviation sector.
It notes that under Kuku’s leadership, FAAN is not only implementing cutting-edge solutions for revenue assurance but also driving strategic partnerships that strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global air cargo market.
As part of the agreements reached, FAAN will formalise the new enforcement framework through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with key stakeholders.
In addition, the DCDS will establish a Cargo Community Forum — a multi-level engagement platform bringing together all players in FAAN’s cargo value chain, from regulators and operators to freight forwarders and exporters.
This forum, FAAN said, will serve as a hub for dialogue, policy feedback, and collaborative problem-solving, ensuring sustained efficiency.
Key outcomes from the meeting include: improved revenue protection and compliance enforcement; strengthened inter-agency collaboration and streamlined cargo flow and operational transparency
FAAN is expected to commence access control measures shortly, with the launch of an electronic stakeholder engagement platform underway.
