BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Firstway FZE and Global Software & Digital Solution (GSDS) to implement the Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) framework in Nigeria.
The agreement, signed on Thursday, is aimed at strengthening aviation security and improving the integrity of Nigeria’s air cargo supply chain.
The implementation will initially focus on inbound air cargo and provide a structured framework for technology deployment, stakeholder onboarding and operational assessment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, described the agreement as an important milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation security system and develop a safer, more secure and internationally compliant air cargo regime.
Najomo said the signing was not the end of the process but the beginning of the actual implementation.
He urged the partners to adhere strictly to the agreed processes, adding that any ambiguity arising during implementation could be brought back for discussion and resolution.
Speaking on behalf of Firstway FZE and GSDS, Peter Igbinedion said the project had taken about nine to 10 months, or longer, to reach the signing stage.
He assured the NCAA of the companies’ commitment to delivering the project successfully, saying they would not disappoint the Authority.
Igbinedion thanked the DGCA, directors and the entire NCAA team for the opportunity to contribute to the development of the country’s air cargo security system.
The NCAA Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Mary Tufano-Eche, said the lengthy process leading to the signing was deliberate and necessary to protect the integrity of the agreement and the interests of the Authority.
She described the initiative as a “quantum leap” for Nigeria, noting that the country was venturing into a relatively new area of air cargo security implementation.
Tufano-Eche acknowledged that the MoU might not be perfect but said it provided a strong starting point and should be treated as a living document that could be amended as implementation progresses.
The ceremony ended with the formal signing of the agreement and a group photograph, with the parties reaffirming their commitment to the successful implementation of the PLACI framework in Nigeria.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
