The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has resumed direct revenue collection at the cargo terminals of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, ending a 15-year break.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection,
Mrs. Obiageli Orah, and shared via FAAN’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, August 23, 2025, the agency confirmed the development.

Officials from FAAN’s Directorate of Cargo Development and Services are now deployed at the cargo release points of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company and Skyway Aviation Handling Company warehouses to supervise and collect cargo charges in real time.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has recorded a landmark achievement with the successful resumption of direct revenue collection at the cargo terminals of MMIA, Lagos, after a 15-year hiatus.

“For the first time in over a decade, FAAN officials from the Directorate of Cargo Development and Services are now stationed at the cargo release points of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouses to oversee real-time collection of accrued cargo charges,” the statement read in part.

According to the statement, the move followed months of stakeholder consultations led by FAAN’s Director of Cargo Development and Services, Mr. Lekan Thomas, alongside the Airport Manager, Mr. Olatokubo Arewa.

It added that the initiative was further strengthened by a meeting between FAAN’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

With the collaboration of the PTC Customs Area Command under Comptroller T. Awe, FAAN said the reform is designed to curb revenue leakages and enhance accountability across the air cargo value chain.

FAAN expressed confidence that the breakthrough at MMIA would serve as a model for replication in other airports nationwide, underscoring its drive to optimise cargo operations and broaden revenue streams.

For the past 15 years, cargo revenues at MMIA had been collected indirectly through ground handling companies such as NAHCO and SAHCO — a system that frequently led to delays, weak oversight, and revenue losses.

By taking over collections directly, FAAN said it can now monitor payments in real time, close leakages, and ensure greater transparency in the accounting process.