FAAN Unveils New Cargo Terminal at Lagos Airport to Enhance Export Capacity

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) commissioned a new domestic cargo processing facility at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, marking a significant step in modernizing Nigeria’s aviation logistics. 

The facility, unveiled by FAAN’s Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku, aims to boost e-commerce and agricultural exports, which grew 15% to $2 billion in 2024. Designed for scalability and security, the terminal processes 100,000 tons annually, reducing cargo handling time by 30%, from 48 to 34 hours, per 2024 airport data.

Lagos, handling 60% of Nigeria’s $5 billion air freight, is a critical hub, with 70% of cargo tied to perishables like yams and seafood. The facility features cold storage for 5,000 tons, addressing 20% spoilage losses reported in 2023, and digital tracking systems cutting clearance delays by 25%. FAAN’s $10 million investment, part of a $500 million Chinese-funded terminal project, supports Nigeria’s 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan, with 80% of operations digitized. The terminal employs 200 workers, 50% women, and plans to create 1,000 indirect jobs by 2026.

FAAN intends to replicate the model in Abuja, Kano, Jos, Niger, and Port Harcourt, targeting a 50% increase in national cargo capacity by 2027. Nigeria’s air freight, 10% of GDP, faces challenges like 15% customs delays and 5% pilferage, per 2024 audits. The Lagos terminal, serving 20 airlines, aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area, boosting 30% of exports to ECOWAS. Critics note that 40% of infrastructure funding relies on loans, risking debt, but 90% of businesses surveyed support the hub’s role in streamlining $1 billion in annual supply chains.