The cargo agents operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have suspended their strike following a reduction in tariff by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

President of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders & Logistics (APFFLON), Frank Ogunojemite, confirmed the development to The Guardian yesterday.
Ogunojemite said that the crisis was resolved on Monday during a meeting with representatives of the FAAN at the Lagos airport.

According to him, FAAN crashed the cargo tariff from the initial N20 per kg to N15 per kg.

He said that with the suspension of the eight-day strike, cargo clearing would resume on Tuesday.

He, however, said that the cargo agent leaders would meet with the ground handling companies – the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc today to discuss the rent as most of the cargo would have entered demurrage.

“Work will resume today (Tuesday) after a meeting with the handlers to address the rent.
“Definitely, they have the right to collect their rent, but we have been appealing to them, which optimistically would be positive,” he said.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Henry Agbebire, which confirmed a reduction in the tariff, said that FAAN had reached an agreement with the cargo agents on the tariff.

He said that the agreement was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday, which was chaired by the Director of Cargo Development and Services, Lekan Thomas.

The statement added: “After constructive deliberations, both parties agreed on a reversed port charge of N15 per kg, representing a compromise from the earlier proposed N20 per kg and an upward review of the existing N7 per kg. The outcome reflects the spirit of dialogue, partnership and shared responsibility.

“FAAN believes the resolution will enhance the ease-of-doing business at MMIA while supporting sustainable airport and cargo infrastructure development.”

The air cargo agents had last week embarked on industrial action to protest the upward review of tariff introduced by FAAN, describing it as anti-business.