Nigeria’s aviation authorities are recalibrating strategy around freight logistics as part of a broader economic diversification drive, with air cargo reforms emerging as a central pillar in efforts to deepen non-oil exports and reposition the country as a regional trade hub.
For decades, Nigeria’s aviation narrative revolved largely around passenger traffic, safety audits and terminal congestion. Cargo operations, though critical to agricultural and industrial exports, remained under-prioritised. That trajectory is now shifting, as regulators and industry leaders seek to align airport infrastructure with the country’s export ambitions.
Air Cargo Reforms Signal Push for Non-Oil Exports
At the centre of the new direction is the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which in December 2024 established a dedicated Cargo Development Directorate under the supervision of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The move marked one of the most structured attempts in recent years to professionalise and expand Nigeria’s air freight ecosystem.
Industry analysts say the air cargo reforms are designed to address a long-standing structural weakness: the disconnect between Nigeria’s agricultural output and its export logistics capacity.
Despite being a leading producer of commodities such as yams, peppers, fruits and vegetables, the country has struggled to translate volume into export competitiveness due to poor cold-chain systems, fragmented clearance processes and inadequate cargo infrastructure.
To close that gap, FAAN commissioned a dedicated domestic cargo terminal at the General Aviation Terminal in Lagos in May 2025. The facility is intended to streamline cargo handling, reduce bottlenecks and improve processing times for export-bound goods.
Plans are also underway to replicate similar facilities in Abuja and Kano, reinforcing Lagos’ role as a logistics anchor while decentralising cargo capacity nationwide.
Infrastructure, Revenue and Digital Reforms
Beyond bricks and mortar, the air cargo reforms extend to revenue management and operational accountability. After a 15-year hiatus, FAAN resumed direct cargo revenue collection at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, deploying officials to release points to curb leakages and standardise charges.
However, the attempt to adjust cargo tariffs has drawn mixed reactions.
A proposed increase from N7 to N25 per kilogram sparked protests among freight forwarders and exporters, culminating in a negotiated rate of N15 per kg. While authorities argue that revised tariffs are necessary to sustain improved services, exporters warn that higher charges could erode Nigeria’s price competitiveness in global markets.
Digital transformation is another cornerstone of the reform push. Stakeholders have advocated single-window clearance platforms, integrated inspection protocols and modern cargo villages that consolidate agencies such as Customs, quarantine services and food safety regulators.
The goal is to eliminate bureaucratic overlap and shorten turnaround times for export consignments.
Aviation consultant Alex Nwuba views the air cargo reforms as part of a strategic ambition to elevate Nigeria’s ranking in African cargo throughput. According to him, Nigeria currently trails continental leaders despite its production capacity.
He explained that an earlier Aviacargo Committee had been mandated to identify obstacles to cargo growth, including poor inter-agency coordination and limited export readiness. The creation of the Cargo Development Directorate, he noted, provided an institutional “driver” to implement those recommendations.
One persistent challenge is post-harvest loss. Industry data suggest that up to 80 per cent of some perishable produce can be lost between farm and airport due to inadequate preservation and aggregation systems. Without functional cold-chain networks, even upgraded airport terminals may struggle to deliver transformative export growth.
Nwuba also emphasised that throughput is directly linked to airport sustainability. Higher cargo volumes translate into improved non-aeronautical revenue streams, enhancing financial viability for airport operators.
Yet not all experts are convinced. Aviation analyst John Ojikutu has questioned whether cargo expansion plans are supported by consistent traffic growth data. He argues that Nigeria’s annual air cargo volumes have hovered below 300,000 tonnes over the past decade, raising concerns about the scale of projected returns on infrastructure spending.
Ojikutu further advocates concessioning cargo terminals to private operators, arguing that specialised management could improve efficiency, enhance transparency and reduce fiscal burdens on government.
Linking Cargo to Economic Diversification
The air cargo reforms align with the Federal Government’s broader objective of reducing reliance on crude oil exports. By facilitating agro-exports and manufactured goods, aviation logistics could become a vital enabler of foreign exchange earnings and rural income generation.
The recent unveiling of an intra-African air cargo corridor offering discounted freight rates is another step aimed at expanding Nigeria’s footprint within continental markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
However, experts caution that logistics upgrades alone will not suffice. Exchange rate volatility, high production costs and regulatory unpredictability remain structural barriers to export growth. For reforms to yield sustained dividends, they must operate in tandem with macroeconomic stability and sectoral policy coherence.
A Sector at a Turning Point
For Nigeria’s farmers and exporters, the stakes are high. Efficient air freight can mean the difference between profitable international sales and spoilage-driven losses.
If the air cargo reforms succeed in synchronising farm production, inspection regimes, warehousing and airport handling, Nigeria could significantly expand its share of high-value perishable exports.
The coming years will test whether institutional restructuring, infrastructure expansion and tariff recalibration can deliver measurable cargo growth.
What is clear is that the conversation has shifted: air freight is no longer an afterthought in Nigeria’s aviation strategy but a frontline instrument in the quest for non-oil export expansion.
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