The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku has asked for swift implementation of findings following a meeting with the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee.
This was made known by the Coordinator, Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, Mr. Ikechi Uko on Thursday.
Mrs. Kuku, during the meeting emphasised the significance of Air Cargo in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and asked the Aviacargo Committee for swift implementation of findings.
Uko, who had briefed FAAN MD on the work done so far disclosed that the meeting of the enlarged committee was the first in over 10 months – and expressed gratitude to Mrs. Kuku 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 has been 3 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 MD of FAAN and her team. Among the outcomes of the meeting today is the launch of a pilot project of exports through 4 selected airports,” he stated.
He disclosed that 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 and another trial run of cereals through the Kano Airport.
“There will also a trial run of exports through the Enugu Airport. The last trial run will be from Jos Airport.”
The coordinator also noted that the trial runs are to test the effectiveness of the Air Cargo Pathway developed by the Roadmap Committee – and will involve the stakeholders of the Air Cargo Ecosystem; other agencies of government including NEPC, NAFDAC, SON, NAQS, NDLEA and Nigerian Customs in the pilot projects.
He stressed that the sub-committee headed by NAQS representative was set up to strategize and fast track the implementation of the trial runs, and was given 2 weeks to submit a report.
Mrs. Kuku commended the members of the Roadmap Committee for their passion and perseverance 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, while the Roadmap team included members of the lead team and representatives of NAQS, SON, NAGAFF, Link Global, NAHCO and ANLCA.
