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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the resumption of direct cargo revenue collection at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, marking a historic milestone after a 15-year hiatus.
The initiative, effective immediately, aims to enhance transparency, plug revenue leakages, and boost the agency’s internally generated revenue (IGR), according to a statement released by FAAN on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, disclosed via the agency’s official X handle that officials from the Directorate of Cargo Development and Services (DCDS) are now stationed at the cargo release points of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouses.
These officials are tasked with overseeing real-time collection of accrued cargo charges, a process previously handled indirectly through handlers, which led to delays and oversight gaps.
FAAN’s Director of Cargo Development and Services, Mr. Lekan Thomas, described the move as a result of months of intensive stakeholder engagement, including collaborations with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under Comptroller T. Awe. “Placing FAAN officers at the point of cargo release is not only a revenue safeguard but also a confidence-building measure for all parties in the cargo value chain,” Thomas stated.
The initiative, supported by FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, and the NCS Comptroller-General, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is expected to streamline operations and improve accountability.
The resumption follows a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the NCS, involving NAHCO, SAHCO, and other ground-handling partners.
For 15 years, indirect collection through handlers resulted in significant revenue losses for FAAN.
The new system allows for real-time tracking of charges, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring funds are properly accounted for.
“This breakthrough at MMIA will serve as a model for replication at other airports across Nigeria,” Orah said, highlighting FAAN’s vision to optimize cargo operations and unlock new revenue streams.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the development, with the Domestic Airports Cargo Agents Association (DACAA) noting that enhanced cargo operations at MMIA could boost Nigeria’s export economy.
Plans are underway to replicate this model in Abuja, Kano, Jos, Niger, and Port Harcourt, positioning Nigeria as a key cargo hub in Africa.
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