The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced a major milestone with the resumption of direct revenue collection at the cargo terminals of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after a 15-year break.
For the first time in more than a decade, officials from FAAN’s Directorate of Cargo Development and Services (DCDS) are now positioned at the cargo release points of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouses. Their role is to supervise and ensure real-time collection of cargo charges.
FAAN stated that the development comes after months of stakeholder engagement. According to Mr. Lekan Thomas, Director of Cargo Development and Services, and Mr. Olatokubo Arewa, Airport Manager, the move is designed to improve accountability in the cargo sector.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, also held a high-level meeting with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which gave the initiative strong backing.
FAAN is working closely with the PTC Customs Area Command, led by Comptroller T. Awe, to strengthen efficiency. “This initiative will plug revenue leakages and improve transparency in the air cargo value chain,” a FAAN representative explained.
Industry stakeholders believe this achievement will have a positive impact on aviation business growth, cargo handling operations, and customs revenue generation. The development also highlights FAAN’s focus on operational efficiency, inter-agency collaboration, and boosting ease of doing business in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Officials confirmed that the breakthrough at MMIA will serve as a model for replication in other airports nationwide. FAAN noted that this strategy is part of its vision to optimise air cargo operations, attract more logistics investment, and unlock new revenue streams within the Nigerian economy.