FG Designates 13 Airports Cargo Terminals

Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah

By Dele Ogbodo

The federal government has designated 13 airports across the country as perishable cargo terminals, as a strategy to enable the country benefit from the over N250 billion  Africa's annual cargo freight business and also to transform the aviation sector into a major revenue earner for the country.

A  statement Tuesday, the Group General Manager, Corporate Service of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Datti, said the airports were designated because of their proximity to the areas referred to as the food baskets of the nation, adding that the airports will be developed to meet with international standard.

He explained that based on expression of interest from the private sector and state governments, the following cities have been prioritised to host perishable cargo terminals. They are Abuja, Akure, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Minna, Owerri, Port Harcourt and Uyo.

According to him, state governments have also been encouraged to partner the federal government to revive smaller airports, particularly for taxi operations, tourism and cargo operations, which could benefit domestic and regional economic development.

He said: "This is to enable them key into the over N250 billion  annual air freight export market out of Africa.  Countries like Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Cote d' Voire, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt are participating in the trading in commodities such as fruits, fresh fish, vegetables and flowers while Nigeria, which produces these produce in abundance, records zero participation."

The strategy, Yakubu said,  was to create the much needed storage infrastructure in view of the large volume involved and to facilitate the evacuation of agricultural produce to domestic markets, in conformity with international standards.

According to him, the European Union was the main market for African exporters, accounting for more than 40 per cent  of total exports, followed by the United States with 20 per cent. Intra-regional trade represents only eight per cent of the total, with South Africa as the leading exporter to the region.