As part of measures to transform the country into an export driven economy and make Nigeria a hub for agro-export in Africa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian, FAAN, has laid the foundation for the first aviacargo village in the country.
The cargo village which is one of the proposed recommendations of the aviacargo road map committee, setup by FAAN, is meant to streamline the process of agro-export in the country and create a seamless operation from the farm to the airplane before it’s ferried abroad.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed, said the idea to build a cargo village was informed by the challenges identified and articulated via the communique issued at the end of the first Aviation and Cargo conference in 2021 called Chinet.
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He said establishing an aviacargo village was identified as one of the the quick wins in addressing the rejection of agro-export from Nigeria and increasing the country’s exports and earnings.
He said: “By this ground breaking ceremony taking place today, you can agree with me that FAAN management is truly determined to implement your recommendations with a view to taking the rightful number one position in aviacargo exports in Africa with the next few years.
“This cargo village will be one-stop-s aimed at addressing most challenges militating against massive aviacargo exports in our country.
“It will have facilities for cargo processing, packaging, certification, laboratory services, data gathering for traceability of products and produces etc.
“You can be assured that in the couple of years, cargo planes will be departing from our airports fully loaded with goods that meet destination standards and acceptance.” He said.
Also speaking at the event, coordinator, aviacargo roadmap committee Mr Ikechi Uko said the ground breaking ceremony is a small step for the 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.