The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has intensified its role in driving Nigeria’s non-oil export growth and strengthening aviation ground handling capacity through major investments in air cargo infrastructure, export processing, and equipment renewal, industry analysts and company executives have said.
Nigeria’s latest Gross Domestic Product data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows the economy grew by 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, with the non-oil sector accounting for 96.6 per cent of total economic activity. Analysts note that rising agricultural and services output, supported by improved export logistics, has been a key contributor to this performance.
At the centre of this momentum is NAHCO’s Export Processing and Packaging Centre (NEPPC), which commenced operations in July 2025. The facility functions as a one-stop hub for air exports, particularly perishables, working in coordination with regulatory agencies including the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC, NDLEA and airlines. This integrated process has reduced cargo dwell time, improved traceability, and enhanced compliance with international standards such as EU and GCC requirements, helping Nigerian exporters compete more effectively in global markets.
Analysts say the NEPPC has bridged a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s export logistics chain by providing small and medium-scale exporters with access to standardized processing, inspection and packaging infrastructure. Since its launch, activity at NAHCO’s export drop-off zones has increased significantly, reflecting growing confidence in air cargo exports.
Speaking on the company’s strategy, NAHCO Group Managing Director, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, said the firm has deliberately positioned itself at the growth end of Nigeria’s economy through sustained investments in export processing centres and modern warehouses nationwide.
Alongside cargo investments, NAHCO has also embarked on one of the largest ground support equipment renewal programmes in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Over the last three years, the company has acquired more than 271 new Ground Support Equipment units, including 35 new tractors commissioned within a single month, as part of a long-term plan to fully re-fleet its operations with modern, safety-compliant equipment.
This commitment was reiterated at a recent stakeholders’ appreciation dinner in Lagos attended by partner airlines, regulators, cargo agents and other industry players. NAHCO Board Chairman, Dr. Seinde Fadeni, attributed the company’s record performance to strong collaboration with its partners, noting that their support has been central to NAHCO’s ability to set service benchmarks across the sub-region.
Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, Prince Saheed Lasisi, said NAHCO’s leadership position has been sustained through continuous investment in equipment, technology and skilled manpower, with safety remaining the company’s top priority. He added that the firm is also deploying new technologies to reduce the rejection of Nigerian perishable exports abroad and plans to replicate the export processing centre model across the country.
Industry stakeholders at the event commended NAHCO for its service quality, responsiveness and role in strengthening Nigeria’s air cargo ecosystem, noting that its investments are delivering benefits not only to aviation but also to agriculture, trade and the wider economy.
