The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in collaboration with the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, has forged a sustainable partnership with the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) to streamline and enhance the export of agricultural products through Nigeria’s airports.
To solidify this strategic alliance, the newly formed Directorate of Cargo Development Services at FAAN, led by Mr. Lekan Thomas, recently visited the NAQS headquarters in Abuja, where the delegation was warmly received by Dr. Vincent Isegbe. The visit amplified the commitment of both organizations to boost Nigeria’s agro-export capabilities.
During the meeting, Mr. Thomas highlighted the critical role of the newly established cargo directorate in propelling the growth of air cargo within Nigeria and significantly contributing to the national economy. He expressed the Directorate’s determination to position Nigeria as a leading agricultural exporter on the African continent.
The Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, under the leadership of Mr. Ikechi Uko, presented a comprehensive export framework designed to streamline the export process of agricultural products through Nigerian airports. Uko explained that the proposed pathway involves a five-step process, beginning with the registration of farms. All agricultural produce intended for export must originate from farms registered with NAQS or the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
The next step involves a registered known shipper, responsible for aggregating the produce, followed by a regulated agent who ensures compliance with export standards. The final stage before export is managed by a licensed handling company, preferably one with RA3 certification.
Before clearance by the licensed airline, NAQS will meticulously inspect the goods at the handling company, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Customs. This process ensures traceability and significantly reduces the risk of rejection for Nigerian agricultural exports in international markets.
Mr. Uko acknowledged potential challenges, particularly in the logistics of transporting produce from farms to airports.
However, he emphasised the need for a robust cold chain infrastructure and stringent measures to prevent contamination during transportation. He also stressed the importance of converting unknown goods into known goods through the licensing of agents at various levels within the export ecosystem.
Mr. Thomas explained the necessity of strict licensing and the establishment of clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) and service level agreements (SLAs) for all stakeholders involved in the export value chain. He noted that the cargo directorate is actively implementing several initiatives to address these critical aspects.
In response, the Comptroller General of NAQS expressed strong support for this collaborative effort and outlined the agency’s existing SOPs for exporters.
He revealed that NAQS has developed detailed guidelines for the export of various agricultural products from Nigeria. While acknowledging the challenges in fulfilling its mandate, the agency sought FAAN’s support to overcome these obstacles.
A consensus was reached among FAAN, the Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, and NAQS to conduct trial runs of exports from four selected airports using the developed template. These trials will involve a timed export process, from farm harvest to the airport, to establish a benchmark that can be replicated by other exporters.
The trial exports are scheduled for October or November and will involve NAQS-registered farms in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, and Jos, with the support of the respective state governments.
