BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), through its Directorate of Cargo Development and Services (DCDS), has engaged the top 100 Licensed Customs Agents operating at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal (PCT), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to improve cargo operations and strengthen relations with the customs brokerage community.
The engagement provided a platform for FAAN/DCDS and the customs agents to discuss challenges affecting cargo movement and clearance, operational efficiency, compliance, training and the general business environment at the airport.
The customs agents described the meeting as a significant development, saying it was the first time in more than 30 years that they had been brought together for direct engagement with FAAN on their experiences, responsibilities and expectations within the air cargo sector.
The agents also commended FAAN/DCDS for recognising their role in facilitating cargo clearance and movement, noting that customs brokers had not always been sufficiently recognised as key players in the airport cargo ecosystem.
They used the meeting to raise operational concerns and suggest areas where stronger cooperation with FAAN could improve cargo processes, increase throughput and create a better working environment.
FAAN/DCDS acknowledged the concerns raised and said the engagement was intended to go beyond listening to complaints by creating a structured and continuous channel for identifying and addressing operational challenges.
The Directorate also stressed the need for stakeholders to maintain compliance with security, documentation, accountability and established airport procedures.
The meeting forms part of the DCDS’s wider stakeholder engagement strategy aimed at strengthening cooperation among businesses and institutions operating within Nigeria’s air cargo value chain.
According to the Directorate, the efficiency of the air cargo system depends not only on infrastructure but also on effective coordination among airlines, ground handlers, customs agents, freight forwarders, government agencies, regulators and security agencies.
The engagement also highlighted the need to clearly define the responsibilities of FAAN and other agencies operating within the cargo environment. Issues requiring the attention of other departments, agencies or stakeholders will be directed through the appropriate channels.
FAAN/DCDS said it was working towards a more efficient, secure, transparent and business-friendly cargo environment at the PCT, while ensuring that stakeholders remain accountable for complying with relevant laws, regulations and airport procedures.
The Directorate said it wants to move away from a largely transactional relationship with cargo stakeholders towards a structured partnership based on communication, accountability, service standards and measurable improvements.
For the Licensed Customs Agents, the engagement was described as an important first step, while for FAAN/DCDS, it marked the beginning of a more deliberate approach to stakeholder relations in Nigeria’s air cargo industry.
The Directorate said it would sustain the dialogue with customs agents and other cargo stakeholders as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency, strengthen compliance and make Nigeria’s air cargo sector more competitive.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
