Ambassador Ikechi Uko, Coordinator of the Federal Government’s Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, has unveiled a practical five-step export pathway designed to help Nigerian SMEs overcome longstanding air cargo bottlenecks and access international markets faster through structured air freight processes.
Speaking at the NAHCO/NACCIMA Exporters Engagement Forum in Lagos, Uko explained that the Federal Government constituted the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee to address deep structural challenges limiting Nigeria’s air cargo performance, despite the country’s size and economic strength.
The committee, coordinated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), includes key agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other subject-matter experts.
According to Uko, air freight remains the most viable channel for SMEs dealing in high-value and perishable goods because of speed, return on investment, and reduced storage risks. However, he noted that inefficiencies in Nigeria’s export chain have made air cargo unnecessarily expensive and underutilized.
“A lot of aircraft come into Nigeria full and leave empty, yet exporters are charged for both legs. That alone increases the cost of air cargo for Nigerian businesses,” he said.
He disclosed that although Nigeria has recorded improvements in air cargo operations, the country still ranks fifth in Africa despite having the largest population and one of the continent’s top four economies, describing the nation’s cargo throughput as “very small.”
Drawing from the committee’s international benchmarking visits, Uko shared key discoveries from Ghana, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
In Ghana, the team found that eggs were being imported from Austria and hatched at the airport for poultry production, while Nigerian egg producers suffered massive wastage without knowing there was demand next door. He attributed this to poor market intelligence and lack of coordination among Nigerian agencies and diplomatic missions.
“We discovered that our embassies are not providing market access information to producers, and agencies like NEPC are not fully integrated into diplomatic trade intelligence channels. Everybody operates in silos,” he said.
In Ethiopia, the committee observed that poorly packaged Nigerian goods were among the most rejected cargoes across Africa. “Our packaging is a major problem. Nigerian products are rejected not always because of quality, but presentation,” he noted.
Uko then unveiled what he described as the committee’s key solution — a structured five-step pathway for export by air.
The process begins with produce originating from an accredited farm licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture or Quarantine Services. The second step involves a “Known Shipper” or consolidator who aggregates and processes goods. This is followed by a KC3 entity — a registered third-party consignor. The fourth stage is the Regulated Agent such as NAHCO, SAHCO, DHL, and other internationally certified handlers. The final stage is the airline.
He explained that most Nigerian exporters bypass the first two critical steps and appear directly at cargo handling companies to package goods, leading to rejection and classification as “Unknown Goods,” which cannot be traced to certified sources.
Citing Kenya as a working example, Uko said facilities already exist where “Unknown Goods” can be converted into “Known Goods” at airport cargo centres through sterilization, documentation, and proper processing by certified agents — a model the committee is recommending for Nigeria.
“Nigerian yam is exported through Ghana because when it leaves Nigeria, it becomes ‘unknown.’ When it gets to Ghana, it becomes Ghanaian produce. This is what we must fix,” he said.
He emphasized that establishing cargo sterilization and processing centres at Nigerian airports would allow SMEs to bring products from anywhere in the country and have them properly certified for international export.
Uko added that the committee’s full report and recommendations will be submitted to the Federal Government within four weeks, expressing confidence that the reforms will significantly improve Nigeria’s air cargo competitiveness and make export easier for SMEs.
“The solution is practical. It is already working in other African countries. We only need to organize our system properly,” he stated.
