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FAAN will restructure Aviacargo business in Nigeria, says Yadudu

By  Maria Diamond
06 May 2023   |   2:20 am
Following the presentation of the third interim report by the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Rabiu Yadudu has pledged the resolve of FAAN...

Following the presentation of the third interim report by the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Rabiu Yadudu has pledged the resolve of FAAN to restructure the business of Aviacargo in Nigeria. He made the promise after an early morning tour of the cargo facilities at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos last weekend.

 
The Aviacargo Roadmap Committee was instituted by FAAN to produce a guideline for the operation of Aviacargo business in Nigeria. The aim is to make Nigeria the number one hub for Aviacargo in Africa. Currently, Nigeria is number five in Africa, far behind Kenya.
  
The committee’s coordinator, Mr. Ikechi Uko, organiser of the CHINET Aviacargo conference, presented the third interim report for April. In the presentation, the coordinator told the MD that the committee had done a tour of the cargo facilities at the international airport earlier in the month and were not impressed with the conditions of the facilities in the area. The team identified five areas where improvement is necessary. They include the export areas of both NAHCO and SAHCO that could be significantly improved upon based on the same organisations’ import areas. Uko described the export areas as disorganised, chaotic, unkempt, dirty, and rowdy.

“The import areas looked like a modern shopping mall while the Export Zones looked like Aswani market or Oshodi markets on a market day. The second is the improper and poor quality packaging of goods for export that is done inappropriately at the airport.
  
“The third is the limited operating hours of the terminal. It is better operating 24 hours to maintain efficient flow based on the airport’s operating hours. There is also the need for regulatory agencies to avail themselves and reduce congestion during the active hours of the airport’s operations.”

Uko suggested that Customs and other stakeholders could work around the clock so that domestic airlines can do regional cargo at night and carry passengers during the day.
 
He also lamented the lack of facilities for exporters to package their goods, having failed to do so at their facilities due to the need for inspections and certification. The fifth is the indiscriminate parking of vehicles all over the terminals and the airport. These issues, the committee said, could be resolved immediately.

After receiving the third interim report, Yadudu decided to go and see the place for himself. Accompanied during the tour by the FAAN MD were the Director of Commercial and Business Development, Sadiku Rafindadi; the GM (Commercial Hyacinth), Ngwu, the chief of staff and staff from the Commercial Department.
  
The MD promised that with a few final touches, the terminal would become an example for the new vision of Aviacargo business in Nigeria. He said the new cargo terminals in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Abuja would also come on stream. “With some minor amendments by the state government, the Sam Mbakwe Cargo facility will also be integrated,” Yadudu said.
  
While commending the Aviacargo committee, Yadudu pledged full and continuous support to the committee.

“We are happy with the work you have done and are still doing. The quality of membership is notable. FAAN will look at the suggestions and start to implement those that can be implemented immediately while we wait for your final report. We do not want an academic report. We all know the problems; we expect a strategy and steps to implement the report when you finally submit it. Please see your effort as a national project that helps not just aviation but the whole nation,” he said.
  
The MD revealed that FAAN is working towards solving the five problems identified by the committee. “There will soon be a multilevel car park to sanitise the environment. As soon as FAAN resolves some of the minor issues, the cargo terminals will be open for 24 hours.”
  
On sanitising the export and processing sections of the cargo terminals, Yadudu promised that FAAN would soon announce a policy for improved packaging and processing of exports so that the export area will also look clean and organised even better than the import area. The tour took the team to all the projects by FAAN around the cargo terminals.

 
Global Congress Unites Sports, Tourism Sectors For Sustainability
Experts in the tourism and sports sectors have come together to boost economic diversification, growth and development of destinations worldwide. This was the basis for the 2nd edition of the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC) organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Government of Croatia through its Ministry of Tourism and Sport, and the Affiliate Member Croatian National Tourist Board.
  
The just concluded congress brought together experts and leaders from across the sports and tourism sectors, alongside representatives of destinations and businesses. It was held under the theme “Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability”.
  
The congress, which was held in Zadar Croatia, focused on key issues such as sports tourism’s economic impact and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
  
Alongside assessing the impacts of sports tourism, the congress also explored the potential benefits of the growing sector, including its links to health and wellbeing, and its importance in promoting destinations to bigger and more diverse audiences.
  
On the importance of uniting both sectors, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Sports Tourism plays a key role in enhancing economic growth and social development in many destinations. It creates jobs and supports businesses in cities and rural communities alike. To maximise its potential, public and private sector actors must collaborate, and that’s where UNWTO steps in.”
  
Minister of Tourism and Sport of Croatia, Ms. Nikolina Brnjac, said: “I am very proud of having hosted this congress in Croatia. We enjoyed hearing many excellent international and Croatian speakers, as well as presenting the many opportunities of sustainable development of sports tourism in Croatia. The Croatian government has secured generous funds for building active tourism infrastructure, in line with our goal of making Croatia a globally competitive sports tourism destination.”
  
Leaders from both established and emerging sports tourism destinations also shared their insights and best practices to produce recommendations for growing the sector in size and influence.

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