The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will begin enforcing new air cargo tariffs from February 2, 2026, bringing to an end nearly two decades without a review of its cargo-related charges.
The adjustment, which applies strictly to cargo operations, was approved in 2025 but deliberately postponed while the authority restructured its internal systems to address long-standing operational gaps and revenue leakages that had undermined collections.
According to an internal report seen by TheCable, FAAN concluded that increasing tariffs before fixing structural weaknesses would have delivered minimal impact, as a significant portion of potential revenue would still have been lost.
Under the revised tariff regime:
Port charges will rise from ₦7 to ₦20 per kilogram
Air cargo handling fees will increase from ₦5 to ₦15 per kilogram
Charges for transhipment, courier services, and perishable goods will move from ₦20 to ₦40 per kilogram
The increases cover import and export cargo, transshipments, and cargo vehicle surcharges. FAAN clarified that passenger-related tariffs remain unchanged.
FAAN officials said the review reflects the severe erosion in tariff value since 2006, noting that other participants in the logistics chain — including customs authorities, ground handling companies, and agents — have adjusted their charges multiple times over the same period.
“FAAN maintains runways, aprons, terminals, security systems, lighting, and access infrastructure that enable cargo operators to function, yet its cargo tariffs have remained unchanged for nearly 20 years,” a senior official said.
The authority disclosed that it consulted the International Air Transport Association (IATA), industry associations, and other key stakeholders before finalising the new rates.
FAAN explained that the implementation follows reforms led by its cargo development and services directorate, with a focus on improving revenue assurance rather than driving cargo volume growth.
One major reform was the redeployment of FAAN operational staff and revenue desks back into cargo warehouses, coupled with tighter monitoring of unaccompanied luggage. According to the authority, these measures effectively shut down long-standing revenue leakages.
Operational data cited by FAAN show that cargo terminals operated by NAHCO and SAHCO recorded improved revenue collections in 2025, despite handling lower cargo volumes than in the previous year.
The authority said this performance validated its strategy, confirming that stronger controls — rather than increased cargo traffic — were responsible for the gains and justifying its decision to delay the tariff hike until systems were stabilised.
