In a press briefing organized on Wednesday the 4th of February 2026,by Airport Freight Forwarders the Deputy National President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Segun Musa in charge of Air and Logistics, Mr. Tope Akindele, Chairman of ANLCA Airport Chapter, African Professionals Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) and MAFFAC,
They made their position known that if the decision enforced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is not reviewed through dialogue, it could lead to disrupt of cargo operations across airports nationwide and further depress government revenue.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Dr. Musa traced the controversy to an agreement reached with FAAN in 2010 over the collection of a seven-naira-per-kilogram levy on cargo, which, according to him, was tied to the allocation of land for the development of a cargo village at the airport.
He explained that prior to that agreement, FAAN had been collecting two naira per kilogram, a charge the freight forwarders had challenged on the grounds that FAAN, having concessioned cargo operations to companies such as NAHCO and SAHCOL, was not directly provthey g cargo handling services.
He said the associations had formally written to FAAN at the time, arguing that the two-naira charge was illegal, a move that led to prolonged negotiations that reportedly lasted for about two weeks and disrupted activities at the airport.
According to him, the eventual compromise was the introduction of the seven-naira charge in exchange for the allocation of land to build a cargo village, a deal he said formed the basis of the current arrangement.
“The seven naira we are talking about is attached to this land. It is like rent on this land,” Musa said, insisting that FAAN had no right to impose fresh charges without first engaging stakeholders.
He opined that, just as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) relates with terminal operators after concessioning the seaports, FAAN should deal with its concessionaires rather than directly imposing charges on operators.
ANLCA Chairman, Mr.Tope Akindelle in same vein , stated that FAN’s proposed increase from N7 to N20 per kilo is unjustified, given the organization’s failure to provide adequate facilities and services to freight forwarders.
Akindele argued that FAN’s actions are a breach of the 2010 agreement, which granted the organization the right to collect N7 per kilo to support the development of cargo handling infrastructure.
He appealed to the Minister of Aviation, Professor Kiyamu, to intervene and facilitate negotiations between FAN and freight forwarders.
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