On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) achieved a historic milestone with the commissioning of a new cargo processing facility at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. This state-of-the-art cargo terminal is the first of its kind by FAAN and reflects the visionary leadership of FAAN MD, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, in modernizing Nigeria’s aviation logistics infrastructure.
Though represented by Ms. Adebola Joy Agunbiade, Director of Commercial and Business Development, the commissioning bore the hallmark of Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku’s strategic focus on trade facilitation, airport modernization, and economic transformation. Her leadership has been instrumental in shifting FAAN’s infrastructure priorities to include cargo logistics, a key lever for GDP growth and SME empowerment in Nigeria.
“One of the key drivers of economic development is trade. To grow our GDP, we must find ways to push local products to the international community,” said Ms. Agunbiade on behalf of MD Olubunmi Kuku.
FAAN’s Lagos cargo terminal introduces cutting-edge features that modernize air freight logistics in Nigeria:
Temperature-controlled storage for perishables
Advanced airport cargo security systems
Efficient loading/unloading bays
Streamlined customs clearance for exports
These upgrades enable Nigerian exporters to meet international cargo handling standards and expand into global markets.
This cargo facility directly supports:
Non-oil export development
SME access to international trade
Reduction in post-harvest losses
Increased employment in logistics and aviation
According to Mr. Olalekan Thomas, Director of Cargo Development and Services, the new terminal will reduce cost inefficiencies and improve cargo speed across Nigeria. Engr. Abiola Muniru Adejare, Director of Engineering Services, noted the facility would ease congestion and simplify cargo agent operations.
Historically, Nigeria’s cargo terminals have been privately managed and focused on international routes. With this new domestic cargo terminal, FAAN is now playing a central role in air freight logistics development, enhancing the local economy and national trade routes.
The project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, focused on economic diversification through trade and infrastructure reform. Under Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku’s leadership, FAAN is not only meeting this national mandate but setting a standard for aviation logistics excellence in West Africa.
Following the successful launch in Lagos, FAAN plans to replicate this cargo model in key cities like Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Jos, and Niger. This will create a national cargo logistics network that integrates regional economies and positions Nigeria as a top trade hub in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We are unlocking new trade potential and building an integrated logistics system that works for every region in Nigeria,” says MD Olubunmi Kuku.
Under the guidance of MD Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, FAAN is redefining airport cargo operations in Nigeria. The new cargo facility is more than infrastructure—it is a gateway to export growth, SME empowerment, and aviation-led development.
Gbenga Olorunpomi is the Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the MD/CE of FAAN
