ENSG  to Partner FAAN for Cargo Airport Development 

The Governor of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah has said that he is committed to partner with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to build a cargo terminal in the Akanu Ibiam International Airport(AIIA),Enugu to boost air cargo business.

Gov Mba said this when he received members of the Aviacargo Airport Development  Committee in his office in Enugu Wednesday .

FAAN , he said has been discussing with him on the issue  and that very soon  the terminal will be in place.

The governor said the cargo terminal will further ensure that the airport becomes the cargo hub in the Eastern part of the country since it has already been designed as as international airport by the Federal Government.

 On his part,  the FAAN,Airport Manager, AIIA, Enugu,Mr.  Umunna Hillary said  that the construction of the International Export Cargo Terminal will commence very soon .

The construction of the much needed cargo terminal according to the Airport Manager  he also explained is not only  to boost cargo business at the airport but  also to  make the airport a cargo hub  in the South East of the country.

The Airport Manager said this when he also received the Aviacargo Airport Development  Committee in his office in Enugu.

He hinted that there is a  challenge in the storage and packaging  of  perishable goods.

Umunna added that the structures for export in Enugu Airport  are not there but that even when they are there, there are no facilities therein.

The Airport Manager said  that the area the airport needs  assistance from the state government is the provision of structures and facilities

Speaking further, the AM said that FAAN has met with the Governor of Enugu State, Mr.Peter  Mbah on some of the challenges.

On the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company’s(MAHCo’s) warehouse  at the airport, he said the facility is not big enough for air cargo operations , adding that there are organisations that are ready to provide world class cargo facilities at the airport.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the  Committee,Mr Ikechi Uko briefed the Airport Manager on the essence of the committee’s visit .

He said that the body is here on a fact finding mission , interact with him, identify the air cargo potential , challenges and proffer solutions in the committee recommendations.

The Coordinator said that the fact that Nigeria is not doing well in air cargo operations is no longer news but that what is news is  how to  ensure that Nigeria is well placed on the continent’s air cargo map.

According to him, “Everybody knows that Nigeria is not doing well in air cargo business.Our position in air cargo in Africa is very low and the solutions to ensure that Nigeriia’s air cargo is booming necessitated not only the setting up of the committee but also led to the visit of Enugu  and other airports.

He lamented that both domestic and export are not doing well and that the situation calls for serious concerns by stakeholders which the Enugu Airport is part of.

Uko hinted that four years ago it was the issue of warehouse but that today the issues are increasing and that the committee is Enugu Airport to know the facilities it has  and the ones that should be added to the existing ones..

“We are looking for a workable solutions . Increase in air cargo export means  increase in the revenue profile of the country. We are here to see what we can do with you to make Enugu Airport a cargo hub in the South East since it is  already connected as an international Airport,” he said.