… Says Air Cargo Very Important To Present Administration
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku has directed the Aviacargo Roadmap committee to Fast-track the implementation of the findings of the committee in the course of the committee’s assignment.
She gave the directive when she and her team met with the enlarged membership of the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee in her office in Lagos
Speaking at the meeting , the FAAN boss said,, “Give me a quicker schedule of Implementation. Air Cargo is of Great importance to this Government. We want things done a little Faster”
At the meeting, the Coordinator of the Committee Mr. Ikechi Uko briefed her on the work done so far, pointing out that this is the first meeting of the enlarged committee in over 10 months.
He commended the Managing Director for meeting with the team and renewing the commitment of FAAN to the successful completion of the project.
Recall that 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.
He told the gathering that there have been three changes of the Chief Executives at FAAN within 12 months before Kuku took over in December 2023.
These changes, Ikechi pointed out disrupted the project as all meetings ceased until the team at FAAN settled in, adding that within this period FAAN implemented some parts of the recommendations made by the Committee by creating a new Directorate of Cargo Development and Services.
These changes at FAAN, the Committee said led to recent meetings between the Committee and the Directorate to streamline the activities between the two of them.
Ikechi stated that the coordination of the Directorate and the Committee led to the enlarged meeting with the MD of FAAN and her team.
He listed the outcomes of the meeting is the launch of a pilot project of exports through four selected airports.
Photo Caption : The Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Mrs.. Olubunmi Kuku and her team and the Coordinator of the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee Mr. Ikechi Uko ,and members of the Committee during the visit to the the agency’s MD in Lagos
Secondly, 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.
Thirdly, there will be another trial run of cereals through the Kano Airport. Fourthly, the Committee Chairman said that there will also be a trial run of exports through the Enugu Airport and that the last Trial run will be carried out at Jos Airport.
These trial runs, Ikechi informed are to test the effectiveness of the air cargo pathway developed by the Roadmap Committee.
Ikechi stated that the trial runs will involve the stakeholders of the air cargo ecosystem.
He listed agencies of government that will be involve in the pilot projects to include: Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), National Agency for Food, Drug and Administration Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service(NAQS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) and Nigerian Customs Service.
Speaking further, Ikechi said that a sub-committee headed by NAQS representative was constituted to strategise and fast track the implementation of the trial runs, adding that this Sub-Committee was given two weeks to submit its report.
After the extensive briefing, 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.
In Kuku’s company to receive the Committee are: FAAN Directors of Special Duties, Director of Legal Services and the Director of Cargo Development and Services.
Members of the Roadmap Committee the lead team and representatives are drawn from NAQS, SON, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF,) Link Global, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company(NAHCO) and Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA.)
Meanwhile, earlier before the Committee met the Managing Director of FAAN and her team, the Aviacargo Committee had commended the Director of Cargo Development and Services, Mr. Lekan 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 action plans 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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