The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has begun efforts to strengthen coordination with customs brokers and other stakeholders involved in air cargo operations, following a meeting with the top 100 Licensed Customs Agents operating at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal (PCT) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The engagement, organised by FAAN’s Directorate of Cargo Development and Services (DCDS), provided an opportunity for customs agents and airport officials to discuss challenges affecting cargo clearance and movement, documentation, compliance, operational efficiency and the wider business environment at the terminal.
FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, was represented at the meeting by the Director of Cargo Development and Services, Mr Lekan Thomas. Also in attendance were the Regional General Manager, South West, Barrister Olatokunbo Arewa; Terminal Manager, Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal, Mr Alale; General Manager, Cargo Development, Mrs Alawo Maman; General Manager, Cargo Registration, Engr. Jay Etim; and other FAAN managers and officials.
The meeting brought together Licensed Customs Agents, representatives of freight forwarding and customs agents’ associations and other participants in the air cargo value chain. The agents welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important opportunity to engage directly with FAAN on issues affecting their work at the airport.
Some of the customs agents said the meeting was particularly significant because it represented the first direct engagement of its kind with FAAN in more than three decades. They also stressed the need for customs brokers to be more recognised as important participants in the airport cargo ecosystem, given their role in facilitating the clearance and movement of goods between cargo owners, importers, exporters and government agencies.
Stakeholders used the forum to raise concerns around cargo processing, documentation, access and coordination among agencies operating within the terminal. They also offered suggestions on how closer cooperation with FAAN could improve cargo flows, increase throughput and create a more efficient operating environment.
Thomas acknowledged the concerns raised and recognised the role of Licensed Customs Agents and freight forwarders as a critical link in the cargo chain. He said their experiences and feedback could help identify gaps in existing processes and guide efforts to improve service delivery.
He added that the engagement was not intended to be a one-off meeting, but part of a more structured approach to stakeholder relations. Issues requiring the intervention of other departments, government agencies or stakeholders, he said, would be channelled through the appropriate authorities for resolution.
FAAN also emphasised the importance of compliance with airport procedures, security requirements, documentation standards and relevant laws and regulations, noting that improvements in cargo operations require cooperation and accountability from all parties.
The Directorate said an efficient air cargo system depends not only on airport infrastructure but also on effective coordination among airlines, ground handlers, customs agents, freight forwarders, regulators, government institutions and security agencies.
The engagement forms part of DCDS’s broader efforts to build a more efficient, secure, transparent and business-friendly cargo environment at the PCT and other Nigerian airports. The directorate said it intends to move towards a more structured partnership with cargo stakeholders, built around regular communication, accountability, service standards and measurable improvements.
For the Licensed Customs Agents, the meeting marked an important opportunity to put their operational concerns directly before FAAN, while for the airport authority, it represents the beginning of a more deliberate effort to improve collaboration across Nigeria’s air cargo value chain.
