Greater Washington tasks govt on air cargo growth in Nigeria

Greater Washington Limited (GWL) has urged the Federal government to reduce export charges paid on local products, so as to encourage the growth of air cargo business in Nigeria.

The Vice President, Greater Group, Awolabi Awosan said that the country does not have cargo planes that are dedicated for domestic business in terms of carrying goods outside the country, adding that, only international planes that bring items to Nigeria.

He also noted that the foreign airlines are allowed to land in major cities of the country, thereby reducing the volume of freight or passengers for the local carriers. Awosan stated that if these international airlines are only allowed to land in Lagos or Abuja, the domestic airlines would then distribute the freight or passengers to other parts of the country.

At a press briefing on Monday in Lagos, he observed that the biggest challenge facing air cargo business is lack of awareness by the public, stressing that so many people are not aware of the business, thereby, it has affected the growth as well as reduce the volume of cargo activities in the country.

Greater Washington Limited is a subsidiary of Greater Group and a party logistics company in Nigeria with core competence in supply chain management, air cargo services and custom clearing and handling.

His words: “Nigeria is an importation dependant country. 60 per cent of goods distribution comes from China, Dubai and other western world. Most of these big items come from these countries, but over here, most of the big items go by road, there are some under belly cannot carry”.

“The lack of air cargo business has reduced the volume in the country, as a result the roads are doing more because of lack of awareness about how faster, cheaper and safer to freight items.”

Awosan, who emphasized that air cargo is cheaper, safer and faster compared to road, said there are lots of risk going by road. As he put it: “We carry blood samples by air, which are not supposed to stay too long on the road.

People are not aware that it is easier, flying your parcels and general items by air, than by road”, he stated.