The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive review of cargo operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as part of efforts to strengthen the agro-allied and non-oil export value chain and enhance foreign exchange earnings.
The overhaul, spearheaded by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), includes biometric registration and documentation of all companies and personnel involved in cargo handling and logistics at the airport. These operators will be issued access point cards in various categories to streamline operations and improve security.
According to FAAN's Director of Aviation Security Services, Mr. Afegbai Albert Igbafe, the initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise airport infrastructure and attract global investment into Nigeria's air cargo value chain.
"Plans are underway to fully automate the cargo terminal's entrance and exit points, install high-tech scanners, surveillance systems, and introduce standard operating procedures to eliminate unstructured business activities," Igbafe said during a tour of the Lagos airport at the weekend.
The government is also responding to demands from foreign airlines for enhanced safety infrastructure, including the installation of explosive trace detectors as a precondition for accepting exports from Nigeria.
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Igbafe noted that over 300 CCTV cameras have been installed nationwide to improve security and facilitate smooth export processes. He said the new measures will reduce congestion and improve Nigeria's competitiveness in the global air cargo sector, particularly for high-value and time-sensitive exports.
Speaking on progress at the Lagos cargo terminal, Head of Cargo Services Mr. John Ogbe said the biometric documentation of operators is nearly 90 percent complete. He added that additional support infrastructure, including processing grounds for the National Agricultural Quarantine Service, is being developed to facilitate agro-produce exportation.
"There will be no more unstructured cargo operations. Once full automation is complete, access and movement will be tightly regulated. This will encourage more credible investors and boost confidence in Nigeria's cargo logistics ecosystem," Ogbe said.
A staff member from one of the handling companies, who requested anonymity, confirmed that recent upgrades at the airport have already increased the volume of cargo exports.
Meanwhile, FAAN is also working to implement recommendations from the AviaCargo Roadmap Committee, which include pilot export projects through airports in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, and Jos. These trial runs will test the effectiveness of a newly designed air cargo pathway that spans from farm harvests to airfreight.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, reiterated the administration's commitment to air cargo development, describing it as a vital component of the government's non-oil export strategy.
