Co-ordinator Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, Amb. Ikechi Uko & MD of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku (middle), flanked left and right by members of the Committee and some FAAN directors.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has tasked the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee on expedited implementation of its findings.

Kuku who said this while meeting with the with the enlarged membership of the Committee on Thursday in her office noted that Air Cargo is of great importance to this government, adding that the administration wants things done a little faster.

“Give me a quicker schedule of implementation. Air Cargo is of great importance to this government. We want things done a little faster,” she said.

The Coordinator of the Committee, Mr. Ikechi Uko, had briefed her on the work done so far by the Committee, pointing out that today is the first meeting of the enlarged committee in over 10 months.

He thanked the Managing Director for meeting with the Team and renewing the commitment of FAAN to the successful completion of the project.

“The Roadmap Committee was set up in December 2022 to provide a roadmap to grow Air Cargo in Nigeria from the 5th position in Africa to ‘Number One’ on the Continent. There have been three changes of the chief executives at FAAN within 12 months with Mrs. Kuku taking over in December 2023.

“These changes disrupted the project as all meetings ceased until the team at FAAN settled in. Within this period FAAN implemented some parts of the suggestions made by the Committee by creating a new Directorate of Cargo Development and Services.

“These changes at FAAN led to recent meetings between the Committee and the Directorate to streamline the activities between the two of them.

“The Coordination of the Directorate and the Committee led to the enlarged meeting with the Managing Director of FAAN and her team,” Uko explained.

 Among the outcomes of the meeting according to Uko was the launch of a pilot project of exports through four selected airports.

He said there will be a trial run of perishables export from harvesting at the farm through the Lagos Airport in a timeline of less than 24 hours.

The Aviacargo expert added that there will be another trial run of cereals through the Kano Airport, also a trial run of exports through the Enugu Airport while the last trial run will be from Jos Airport.

He explained that these trial runs are to test the effectiveness of the Aircargo pathway developed by the Roadmap Committee. “The trial runs will involve the stakeholders of the Aircargo ecosystem. 

“Other agencies of government including NEPC, NAFDAC, SON, NAQS, NDLEA and Nigerian Customs will all be involved in the pilot project.”

A sub-committee headed by NAQS representative was set up to strategise and fast track the implementation of the trial runs and given two weeks to submit report.

Kuku commended the members of the Roadmap Committee for their passion and perseverance to stay the course thus far and encouraged them to fasten the speed of the project now that FAAN has reinforced its support for the project.

She received the Team along with FAAN Directors of Special Duties, Director of Legal Services and the Director of Cargo Development and Services.

The Roadmap team included members of the Lead team and representatives of NAQS, SON, NAGAFF, Link Global, NAHCO and ANLCA.

Meanwhile, earlier in the Aviacargo Committee meeting before its visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, the Director of Cargo Development and Services, Mr. Lekan Thomas, was commended for the laudable steps taken so far to put into practice some of the action plans communicated to him during the Committee’s meeting with him shortly after assuming office.

These include but not limited to his effort in insisting that the cargo handlers in the cargo terminals reduce the number of human traffic and pep up their processes in line with global practices.

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