The Federal Government on Monday kicked – off the construction of an Aviation Cargo Village on the link road connecting the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
While carrying out the ground breaking ceremony at the Mafoloku axis of the metropolis, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf , said the move was part of efforts aimed at addressing most challenges militating against massive avia-cargo exports.
The facility occupies land measuring 27.357. 137 square metres, Yusuf said, would be a one-stop shop for the processing, packaging, certification laboratory services, data gathering for traceability of products and produce meant for air freighting.
He said the facility had become compelling because Nigeria needs to grow its non- oil export value chain.
He said: “This ground-breaking ceremony marking the beginning of a new phase in Avia-Cargo facilitation in our airports was taken by FAAN Management to address the challenges that hinder our capacity to process enough cargo in our airports.’’
“These challenges were identified at the end of the first Aviation and Cargo Conference in 2021.
“Establishing an Avia-Cargo Village was identified as one of the quick wins in addressing the rejection of our avia-cargo exports, and thus, increasing our exports and earnings.
“By this feat FAAN management is truly determined to implementing the recommendations put forward by the committee set up by the government to ensure Nigeria takes its rightful position in Avia-Cargo exports in Africa within the next few years.
“You can be assured that in the next couple years, Cargo planes will be departing from our airports fully loaded with goods that meet destination standards and acceptance.”
Also speaking at the event, coordinator, aviacargo roadmap committee Mr Ikechi Uko said the ground breaking ceremony is a small step for agency and the committee members but a giant step for Nigeria.
“I want use this opportunity to thank FAAN, the management staff, for what they have done. This is a small step for those of us here but it is a magic leap not just for FAAN but for Nigeria. We are number 5 in Africa, when we ought to be number one and this today starts the journey to number one aviation cargo hub Africa. I thank the Managing Director for bringing this to fruition and the whole committee members for supporting this project since we started. And the next time we will be here, there will be evidence of what we have done today.”
Conducting stakeholders and journalists on a tour of the village, FAAN’s General Manager, Land and Survey, Dr. Olorunnisola Michael Oluwatayo, said the cargo village has size of 27,000 square meters.
He said the village is large enough to accommodate all the exports processes at the airport.
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