99% Cargo Aircraft Depart Nigeria Empty-Dati

Mr. Yakubu Dati, Coordinating general manager on Information & Communication, Aviation Agencies, said it is a new dawn that beckons to Nigeria farmers, on the sidelines of new cargo terminals mulled by the federal government.

The “Air Cargo Revolution”, Dati said, has become expedient to bridge the “one-sided trade as far as fresh fruits and vegetables are concerned”, adding that, “99 per cent of cargo aircraft flying into Nigeria, return to their places of origin—empty!”

He said that the global trade in perishable farm produce is worth several billions of dollars per annum. In 2010, African countries participating in this trade recorded a turnover of about N245 billion.

In his words: “The countries involved are South African, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cote D’Ivoire ,Benin Republic and Ghana. Nigeria was completely missing on that list. Today, the situation is still the same. But from all indications things are about to change.

“The current Aviation minister Princess Stella Oduah has set in motion a new air cargo programme that is expected to transform the air cargo sector and also provide immense benefits to Nigerian farmers.

“The minister has undertaken a radical step of refurbishing and redesigning of 22 airport terminal across the country. She has also designated 13 of these as cargo terminals and has began the process of constructing additional facilities at these airports to make them function effectively as cargo airports”.

A few months ago, a new department was created in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) to spearhead the new drive for the development of air cargo sector in the Nigerian Aviation industry.

Furthermore, under the multi-billion dollar agreement signed by President Goodluck Jonathan on behalf of Nigeria with the Chinese government, Dati, added, five brand new world class airport terminals would be built in the country by the Chinese state-owned construction company, CCECC.

These new airport terminals have been designed with facilities for air cargo.

Highlighting how farmers will benefit from the project, the general manager said that the Aviation ministry and FAAN are currently laying the groundwork that would open a new world of opportunities for Nigerian farmers.

The global market in fresh agricultural produce worth well over $5 billion, about N1 trillion annually is being opened up for Nigerian farmers.

Dati said: “Fresh tropical fruits such as oranges, pineapples, mangoes, tangerine, paw paw, grapes ,cashew, bananas, vegetables, flowers and legumes grown in the country are soon to head to international markets in Europe and the US where they would compete with  similar produce from around the world.

“Nigerian fruits which are invariably grown organically and are delicious are expected to