The recent designation of some of the nation’s airports as cargo airports by the Federal Government has led to a major increase in cargo movements across the country as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recorded 20 percent increase in cargo movement across the airports in the third quarter of last year.
The concept of designating some of these airports as cargo airports was borne out of the need by the Federal Government to facilitate the exportation of agricultural produce and other perishable goods considering the insecurity on the roads.
In the third quarter of 2013, a total of 52,590,752.65 kilogrammes of cargo were carried through the airports as against 43,582,117.90 in the third quarter of 2012, signifying a 20 percent growth in 2013.
Yakubu Dati, FAAN spokesperson said, “the Airport Remodelling Project is a key component of the Aviation Master Plan initiated by Stella Oduah, minister of aviation. It is designed to modernise all the 22 airports terminals in the country towards restructuring them as centre point of economic activity and investor’s destination.”
