… appoints Ikechi Uko as coordinator
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concerned by the challenges identified to be hindering its capacity in processing enough cargo freighting in the nation’s airports has set up an Aviation Cargo Road Map Committee.
The managing director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, while delivering a speech at the inauguration of the committee revealed that the 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: “I am happy today, because these challenges were identified by the various organisations represented in this committee, I am about to inaugurate.
“It is my pleasure to welcome all of you, very distinguished professionals to the inauguration of this very important Aviation Cargo Road Map Development Committee.
“My happiness is doubled or even tripled because looking at the array of names that constitute the membership of this committee, I have no doubt, we made the right choices.
“I am convinced that as highly experienced professionals in the cargo value chain that you will drive the development of an implementable Aviation Cargo Road Map that will address the identified challenges with a view to moving the cargo business from the level we are 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.”
The managing director disclosed that currently, Nigeria is in the fifth position in Africa, having facilitated only 204, 649 tons of cargo in 2021.
The first airport, according to him facilitated only 363,204 tons in the same year. And in domestic cargo we facilitated only 8,895 tons in 2021.
“By our projections of 25 per cent on year-on year incremental basis, we expect to be ranked first or second in Africa by or before the year 2027. With you, certainly, we can achieve this.
“May I inform you that most administrative bottlenecks identified by the various organisations are being considered at the ministerial level.
“I can assure you that administrative challenges already identified will be rectified for more efficiency in our operations and logistics,” Yadudu assured.
Continuing, he said the terms of reference for the committee include:
To articulate action plans that meet international best practice and assign timelines for facilitation of cargo processing at our airports.
To articulate guidelines that meet international best practice for Public-Private Partnership in developing modern cargo infrastructure and facilities for optimum air-cargo facilitation that meets destination Country’s standard.
To articulate programmes and incentives that will encourage mass participation of local airlines in domestic cargo facilitation.
To articulate mechanisms that will bridge the Turn-around time in cargo facilitation
To articulate solutions to lack of adequate insurance coverage in the cargo value chain
Any other suggestions that may help us achieve the desired goal in cargo business in our airports.
He urged the professionals, to start work immediately “and we expect to get your report within the first quarter of 2023.”
Yadudu announced that the coordinator of the assignment shall be Mr. Ikechi Uko and the secretariat shall be domiciled with the Directorate of Commercial and Business Development of FAAN.
“I hereby inaugurate the Committee and charge you to live up to our expectations,” said Yadudu.