By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma has said that the Authority will support any effort aimed at maximising the potentials in the country’s air cargo sector. Engr. Dunoma made this remark last week during the Nigerian Air Cargo Summit in Lagos. He said that the quest to maximise these potentials has led to the remodeling of designated perishable cargo airports across the country.

According to Engr. Dunoma, “a recent IATA report suggested that cargo volumes are expected to grow by 4.5 percent in 2015, as compared to the time when air cargo business faced weak markets and increasing competition since 2011”. The Managing Director, who was represented by FAAN’s Director of Cargo Development, Dr Uche Ofulue, therefore called on all private investors and stakeholders in the aviation industry to reach out and showcase the rich potentials of Nigeria to the world by keying into the opportunities available in the country’s air cargo industry.

According to him “some strategic airports in Nigeria e.g. Akure, Makurdi, Minna, Abuja, Owerri, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Uyo, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt have been designated fresh and dry cargo airports, for the direct exportation of fresh agricultural produce from surrounding local communities to markets in Europe, the United States of America and other countries across the world”.

He further assured that “Work has already started on some of these cargo terminals at some airports across the country”. Other FAAN staff who attended the event include: MD/CEO, NAHCO Robert Bilderman, Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Capt. Henry Omeogu, National president, NAGAF, Eugene Nweke, Acting Chief Commercial Manager, Mr. Seyi Adewale, MD/CEO ANCLA, Nze Aloysius Emeka, GM Economic Regulation/Facilitation, NCAA, Mrs. Anthonia Abiola Vincent.