New Port Charge Enforcement Measures Set to Plug 18-Year Revenue Leakages at Lagos Cargo Terminal

…FAAN Rallies Stakeholders to Enforce Port Charge Compliance
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has secured the backing of key industry players to enforce long-overdue compliance with statutory port charges at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal (PCT) of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos—a move projected to significantly enhance revenue generation and operational transparency.
For over 18 years, FAAN has struggled to ensure that the mandatory port charge is paid before cargo leaves airport warehouses, a loophole that has cost the Authority substantial revenue.
Now, through its Directorate of Cargo Development & Services (DCDS), FAAN is closing ranks with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) to implement a strict compliance regime.
At a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by NCS, FAAN’s Director of Cargo Development & Services, Mr. Lekan Thomas, announced plans to deploy robust access control systems and electronic platforms that will enforce payment without disrupting cargo flow.
“This initiative is designed to enhance accountability while ensuring operational fluidity,” he said, stressing that the reforms will strengthen FAAN’s internal revenue and improve transparency in cargo operations.

The Customs Area Controller for MMIA, Comptroller Awe, pledged full support for the enforcement drive, promising to brief shed heads and facilitate cooperation through an interactive stakeholder forum. This, he noted, will ensure smooth implementation and foster better inter-agency coordination.
The development is in line with the vision of FAAN’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, whose leadership has been marked by innovation, operational reforms, and revenue optimisation.
Under her stewardship, FAAN has intensified the adoption of cutting-edge solutions for revenue assurance while forging strategic partnerships that enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global air cargo market.
Agreements reached at the meeting include:
Formalising enforcement through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with key stakeholders.
Creating a Cargo Community Forum, bringing together regulators, operators, freight forwarders, and exporters for continuous dialogue, policy feedback, and collaborative problem-solving.
Launching an electronic stakeholder engagement platform to streamline communications and compliance monitoring.
With access control measures set to commence soon, FAAN expects the reforms to deliver three critical outcomes: improved revenue protection, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and greater operational transparency – signalling the end of nearly two decades of revenue leakage in Nigeria’s busiest air cargo hub.