By Joy Enamuna

Lagos – In a major push to improve transparency and streamline operations in Nigeria’s air cargo sector, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has partnered with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to launch an Integrated Air Cargo Stakeholders Registry.

The new initiative, announced by CRFFN Registrar and CEO, Mr. Igwe Kingsley Onyekachi, is being executed in collaboration with FAAN’s Directorate of Cargo Development & Services (DCDS).

It aims to consolidate and digitize data on all stakeholders within the air cargo value chain—ranging from freight forwarders and airlines to ground handlers and other logistics operators at Nigeria’s airports.

According to the CRFFN, the registry will serve as a central database for verifying stakeholder credentials, monitoring regulatory compliance, and improving coordination across the sector.

The initiative will be implemented in three phases: data capture, data validation, and biometric enrollment.

“All stakeholders operating within the airport corridor must submit updated business and operational information to the CRFFN via FAAN,” the agency stated.

After submission, the data will be verified and validated before stakeholders are officially registered on both the CRFFN and FAAN portals. The final phase involves biometric enrollment for all validated participants.

CRFFN and FAAN believe the project will resolve long-standing issues such as fragmented data systems, regulatory overlaps, and cargo handling inefficiencies.

The move is also aligned with the federal government’s broader goal of positioning Nigeria as a leading regional logistics hub.

The pilot phase of the registry has commenced at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, with plans underway to expand the rollout to other major airports nationwide.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying it would promote professionalism, enhance investor confidence, and support economic growth.

CRFFN has directed all air cargo operators, including customs-licensed agents, freight forwarders, consolidators, and courier companies, to comply with the onboarding process as part of the ongoing registry development.

Both agencies have pledged to provide technical support, stakeholder engagement, and training throughout the implementation period.