Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Saleh Dunoma, has pledged support for efforts to maximise potential in the air cargo sector.
He made the pledge at the Nigerian Air Cargo Summit organised by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Cargo (NAHCO) in Lagos.
He disclosed that the quest to maximise cargo potential led to the remodelling of designated perishable cargo airports across the country.
“A recent IATA report suggested that cargo volumes are expected to grow by 4.5 per cent in 2015, as compared to the time when air cargo business faced weak markets and increasing competition since 2011,” said Dunoma, represented by FAAN Director of Cargo Development, Uche Ofulue.
He urged private investors and stakeholders in aviation to showcase the rich potential of Nigeria to the world by keying into the opportunities in the country’s air cargo industry.
“Some strategic airports in Nigeria – including Akure, Makurdi, Minna, Abuja, Owerri, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Uyo, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt – have been designated fresh and dry cargo airports, for the direct exportation of fresh agricultural produce from surrounding local communities to markets in Europe, the United States and other countries across the world.
“Work has already started on some of these cargo terminals at some airports across the country.”
FAAN also disclosed the success of its simulated bomb disposal exercise held on February 28.
The exercise, conducted at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, measured the airport’s response procedures in the event of real bomb explosion.
Flight operations were not disrupted. Nonetheless, FAAN apologised to passengers and members of the public caught unawares and reiterated commitment to safety and security.
It said the drill was in fulfillment of regulatory authority’s requirements in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standard and Recommended Practices (SARP).
