Fragmentation Among Agencies, Reluctance To Collaborate Can Impede Progress, Says FAAN MD
“The current fragmentation among agencies and reluctance to collaborate can impede progress. When individual interests take precedence over collective goals, it creates barriers.”
These were the words of the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku at the National Single Window Stakeholders’ Forum held at Marriott Hotel, Lagos.
She identified this as a challenge that must be recognized saying “no agency or stakeholder can succeed alone. It is through teamwork that we ensure sustainable progress. It is through collaboration that we unlock our true potential.”
She said the conference “represents a significant step in shaping our nation’s trade landscape. Together, we will explore the transformative potential of the Single Window initiative, which aims to enhance trade facilitation and position Nigeria as a powerhouse in the global economy.
She further emphasized the critical role of aviation in global commerce. “According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air cargo facilitates the transportation of goods worth over $8 trillion annually, accounting for about 33% of global trade by volume. With Nigeria’s immense potential in manpower, resources, and capacity, the Single Window initiative is pivotal in helping us capture a larger share of this global trade.
This vision inspired the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, to establish the Directorate of Cargo Development and Services. This directorate focuses on enhancing air cargo trade volumes, particularly exports, through route development, including partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Russia, and fostering agro-export collaborations with private and state governments; streamlining operations by eliminating bottlenecks at our airports; creating a supportive and efficient environment for all stakeholders and ensuring the safety, security, and compliance of stakeholders and cargo across all airports.
These initiatives reaffirm the Ministry’s and FAAN’s unwavering commitment to transforming Nigeria into a global trade and aviation excellence hub. They underscore the Aviation Ministry’s and FAAN’s dedication to evolving our airports into dynamic centres for exports and trade, aligning with the President’s ambitious goal of growing the economy to $1 trillion. FAAN has made remarkable progress in trade facilitation through key initiatives, including implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for stakeholders like ground handlers, airlines, customs brokers, and government agencies to standardize operations; engaging and registering all stakeholders operating at the airports to ensure security, safety, and compliance with international standards; actively participating in broader initiatives like the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Trade Facilitation Act of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and now the National Single Window, which are aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and improving the ease of doing business.”
Kuku said the Single Window initiative is critical at this moment in Nigeria’s economic growth because “it serves as an innovative digital platform that seamlessly integrates government agencies, private stakeholders, and financial institutions. This collaboration streamlines trade processes and eliminates the bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long hindered progress.”
Kuku identified benefits of embracing this initiative as efficiency, transparency, cost savings, compliance and strengthened global relationships, adding that “adopting the Single Window initiative should not be viewed merely as the introduction of a technological tool; it presents a unique opportunity for us to unite under a shared vision of efficiency, growth, and prosperity—for our nation and ourselves.
For those still uncertain, I encourage you to consider this: the successful implementation of this system will undoubtedly lead to increased trade volumes, resulting in greater revenue for all involved stakeholders. This success will be a collective triumph.
Let us cultivate a mindset that prioritizes progress over individual interests. As Hans Hofmann wisely said, “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”
Kuku said “the journey to a modernized trade environment starts with our collective efforts. We must embrace the Single Window initiative and collaborate in paving the way for an inclusive, efficient, and prosperous trade ecosystem.”
