In a move aimed at improving transparency and coordination within Nigeria’s air cargo industry, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has instructed all players in the air cargo value chain—including airlines, ground handlers, freight forwarders, and courier firms—to register with the newly established Integrated Air Cargo Stakeholders Registry (IACSR).
According to portnewsonline.com.ng, the pilot phase of the IACSR, which has commenced at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, spearheaded by the Directorate of Cargo Development & Services, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with regulatory support from the Directorate of Regulation and Enforcement, CRFFN.
The CRFFN and the FAAN initiated the IACSR to enhance transparency, efficiency, and coordination in Nigeria’s air cargo sector. The IACSR is designed to consolidate data on all stakeholders in the air cargo value chain, including freight forwarders, airlines, ground handlers, other logistics service providers, and regulatory agencies operating in all airports in the country.
The CRFFN Registrar/CEO, Mr. Igwe Kingsley Onyekachi, gave the directive in a statement he personally signed and made available to PortNews in Lagos over the weekend.
Onyekachi informed that there are plans to expand the initiative to other major airports across the country, noting that the formation of the IACSR signals a new regulatory synergy and digital transformation era in Nigeria’s logistics and aviation sectors.
According to him, the IACSR will serve as a central database for verifying the credentials, operational status, and regulatory compliance of all participants involved in air cargo operations.
There are three stages of registration on the IACSR which stakeholders will undergo.
Data Capture
All stakeholders operating within the airport corridor are required to submit up-to-date information about themselves and their businesses to the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for documentation purposes.
Data Validation
READ: Aviacargo: Mounting Crisis at Lagos Ports as Over 15,000 Abandoned Cargoes Choke Terminals
The submitted information is thoroughly verified and validated. Once confirmed, the stakeholders are officially registered on both the CRFFN and FAAN portals.
Biometric Enrollment
Practitioners who have successfully completed the data validation and registration process are enrolled for biometric identification by FAAN.
The CRFFN Registrar/CEO expressed confidence and support of the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, for the success of the registration platform.
Onyekachi said “this initiative underscores the shared commitments of CRFFN and FAAN to professionalism, safety, and accountability in the freight-forwarding ecosystem.
“It is important to note that improved coordination among stakeholders is essential to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s air cargo industry. We are proud to partner with FAAN in establishing a more structured and transparent system that will not only streamline airport operations but also promote investor confidence and drive economic growth.
“The registry will also support the federal government’s goal of positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for cargo and logistics. By enabling seamless identification and tracking of stakeholders, the system aims to reduce bottlenecks, eliminate unauthorized operators, and foster collaboration across the value chain.
“This collaboration, being a step in the right direction, will particularly address long-standing issues related to data fragmentation, regulatory overlap, and cargo processing inefficiencies.”
He maintained that both CRFFN and FAAN had promised to sustain this collaboration with adequate stakeholder engagement, training, and technical support throughout the rollout process.
“As Nigeria continues to reposition its logistics infrastructure for global competitiveness, this collaboration stands as a bold testament to the power of regulatory partnership and digital innovation,” said he.
