The Federal Government is working on proposals that will enable the country to tap into the burgeoning air cargo, logistic and allied value chain estimated to hit over $12 billion in the next five years.
Part of the value chain considered for capture in the revenue yielding ecosystem include export of agricultural produce by air, electronic commerce/ logistics production as well as other manufactured goods.
To drive this, several agencies of government including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and NAFDAC, State Governments with airports in their jurisdictions as well as other trade facilitation agencies agencies have been working on templates that will boost air cargo, logistic/ courier and allied business.
Speaking in an interview, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku said the government is working on a number of initiatives that will make Nigeria become a dominant cargo hub, a beacon of efficiency, and a catalyst for economic prosperity across Africa.
She said : “ This is our commitment: to ensure Nigeria is not just a point on the global cargo map, but the strategic gateway connecting Africa to the world.”
Kuku said the Directorate of Cargo Development Services (DCDS), recently created in FAAN, has been engaging stakeholders on how to achieve the objective.
“FAAN is fully committed to creating the enabling environment, the necessary policies, infrastructure, and political will for this ecosystem to thrive.”
She said the government cannot drive this agenda alone.
“We need partnership, innovation, and commitment to push this to fruition.
“The issues and opportunities before us, whether in handling, documentation, automation, safety, or export readiness, all require a joint approach.
‘Let’s fix bottlenecks. Let’s upgrade our facilities. Let’s lift service quality. Let’s build the systems that make cargo flow seamless in and out of Nigeria. Let’s put Nigeria in its rightful place as the air cargo powerhouse of West and Central Africa because we can, and because the future demands it.”
Kuku further stated that “the work ahead is vast, but so is the potential. As we begin this journey, let us move forward with a shared purpose that we are building not just for today, but for future generations. With your partnership, we will deliver a cargo ecosystem that is secure, competitive, profitable, and efficient.
“ One that supports our farmers, manufacturers, exporters, courier services, pharmaceutical handlers and every business that depends on the rapid movement of goods. One that positions Nigeria not only as a player, but as a leader in African trade. Together, we will create the hallmark of cargo excellence that Nigeria deserves.”
She further said “the air cargo industry is the essential artery of modern global trade, carrying life-saving medicines, high-value technology, and perishable goods. For Nigeria, with our vast potential in agriculture, manufacturing, and e-commerce, the possibilities are boundless.”
“However, we readily admit that we have operated below our potential for too long. We have been held back by inadequate facilities, delays, and missed opportunities. That changes today,” she said.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr Bode Makanjuola said Nigeria’s aviation sector can unlock significant cargo value if operators commit to a collaborative cargo value chain built on discipline, shared data and coordinated national intent.
He stressed that the country has reached an unusual moment of alignment where policy direction, market demand and economic priorities now support real progress.
He explained that this moment is rare because Nigeria has faced decades of fragmented systems and inconsistent execution.
However, he said the current landscape offers a stronger foundation for growth. This shift is driven by rising African air freight demand and Nigeria’s position as a leading import gateway with increasing export potential.
According to him, these conditions create the right atmosphere to build a cargo environment that consistently delivers measurable cargo value.
He linked the new momentum to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo’s five -point agenda, which aims to rebuild aviation infrastructure, improve safety, strengthen local airline operations, expand human capacity and increase revenue.
He said these pillars are not political declarations but the structural foundations needed to support a modern cargo ecosystem that produces sustainable cargo value.
He added that industry players must treat these pillars as operational instructions rather than suggestions.
The coordination, he said, must replace fragmented decision-making, and agencies must move with shared accountability.
According to him, the cargo sector will only scale when every operator, regulator and service provider acts with a unified purpose.
He said the first major shift must be the creation of a single national coordination framework where FAAN, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigeria Customs Service, airlines, terminal operators and exporters work together.
He insisted that a shared data environment enables quicker decisions and prevents the unnecessary delays that often undermine cargo value at Nigerian airports.
He noted that infrastructure improvement must also follow a clear national standard. When temperature control systems, automation procedures, safety protocols and digital access differ across airports, the entire chain becomes unreliable.
However, he explained that predictable infrastructure strengthens accessibility, reduces processing time and increases Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
He argued that full digitisation is essential because manual systems create bottlenecks that reduce cargo value. He advocated a national single window that integrates electronic airway bills, Customs processes, payment systems, cargo inspection and real-time tracking. He said this level of transparency will immediately strengthen confidence across the cargo community.
He also emphasised the need for dedicated export-quality hubs that bring packaging, testing, certification and documentation under one roof. He said exporters lose valuable time navigating scattered procedures.
However, consolidated facilities , he said, will reduce delays and allow Nigeria to move agricultural and manufactured goods more efficiently.
He further encouraged the aviation community to embrace public–private partnerships because PPPs offer a pathway to world-class cargo terminals, modern cold-chain systems and globally recognised best practices.
According to him, Nigeria must leverage private expertise to expand cargo value for both small exporters and large logistics companies.
He explained that capacity development across agencies is equally important because handlers, inspectors, airline teams and regulators must understand shared standards. When they operate with similar competencies, operational disputes reduce sharply and efficiency improves.
This, he said, directly boosts measurable cargo value.
He urged the government and industry leaders to elevate cargo to a national economic priority.
He said cargo must no longer be treated as an afterthought. When it receives strategic focus, agencies collaborate instead of competing, and the entire system becomes more resilient.
He said operational success in Nigeria often occurs by exception. He said the Dangote Refinery demonstrated what becomes possible when approvals, policies and stakeholder actions move in a single direction.
He urged the industry to adopt that level of urgency and alignment to build a system that consistently delivers cargo value.
He noted that Nigeria’s cargo potential could reach $12 billion by 2030, and with coordinated reform, the country can lead Africa’s cargo logistics market.
He also referenced the need to align with international best practices, directing stakeholders to global guidance available through the International Civil Aviation Organisation for cargo standards.
He said Nigeria must now fast-track reforms and build the world-class cargo system that the economy urgently needs.
