The General Manager of Port Harcourt International Airport, Mrs. Ezike Ifesinachi, has raised concerns over the persistent underutilisation of the airport’s world-class cargo handling facilities.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Ifesinachi, who also serves as the South-South Regional Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the airport is fully equipped to support high-volume cargo operations but continues to experience low patronage from operators.
“Facilities here are top-notch — from a state-of-the-art terminal building to well-trained manpower capable of managing large-scale freight,” she said. “Yet, these resources remain largely idle due to lingering operational hitches.”
One of the key challenges, according to her, is the issue of freight differentials, which she recently raised during a visit by the House Committee on Customs. The committee chairman, Hon. Leke Abejide, reportedly assured that steps would be taken to address the concern.
In a related development, Mr. Charles Onyema, chairman of the Port Harcourt chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), decried the lack of political will among leaders from the South-South and South-East regions.
“Our leaders have remained silent instead of drawing the attention of relevant authorities to the challenges facing cargo operations here,” Onyema said. “This silence is detrimental to the economic wellbeing of the regions.”
He advocated for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, noting that similar efforts revived cargo operations at the Kano Airport.
“Kano was once in the same situation until political leaders stepped in. Today, the airport has seen significant improvements in cargo activities,” he added.
Both officials called for urgent and sustained efforts to unlock the full potential of Port Harcourt International Airport’s cargo sector, which could serve as a critical economic hub for the region.
