FAAN breaks ground for 27.357. 137 sq metres Cargo village 

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) Mr. Kabir Yusuf has broken ground for a 27.357. 137 sq metres Aviation Cargo Village, which will be a one-stop-centre that will address most challenges militating against massive avia-cargo exports in our country.

Kabir, in the company of coordinator, Aviacargo Roadmap Committee, Mr. Ikechi Uko laid the foundation for a new Aviacargo Village near the Hajj and cargo terminal of the Lagos international airport

Once up and running, the cargo village will house processing and packaging factories, certification laboratory services, data gathering for traceability of products and produces and the entire gamut that will aid the country take the number one position in Avia-Cargo exports in Africa within n the next few years.

Mohammed said,”Avia-Cargo Village was identified as one of the quick wins in addressing the rejection of our exports, and thus, increasing our exports and earnings. By this ground-breaking ceremony taking place today, ladies and gentlemen, you can agree with me that FAAN management is truly determined to implementing your recommendations with a view to taking the rightful number one position in Avia-Cargo exports in Africa within n the next few years.

“This Aviation Cargo Village, will be a one-stop-centre aimed a addressing most challenges militating against massive avia-cargo exports in our country. It will have facilities processing, packaging, certification laboratory services, data gathering for traceability of products and produces etc.

“You can be assured that in the next couple years, Cargo planes will be departing from our airports fully loaded with goods that meet destination standards and acceptance.”

Ambassador Ikechi Uko who also spoke at the groundbreaking event said, the project is a Nigeria project and stakeholders in the business would be invited to invest in this public, private Partnership Initiative.

“We are going to invite the best players in the world to come here, so that this becomes a template, a sample that you can take to other airports in Nigeria”.

“Individuals will build, it wouldn’t be FAAN, FAAN would just do the site management but FAAN would have some of their properties here. Now that we have started, we are going to open it up to Nigerians who are in this business to come and invest”.

“It is a Nigerian project and the benefits is that, it will improve our capacity to export, you can vet, you can package, you can do everything, it is a One-Stop shop, so once it leaves here, it goes straight into the plane and it’s off”.