The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has increased cargo port charges to ₦20, marking the first review of the tariff in nearly two decades.
The adjustment, which takes immediate effect, was confirmed by FAAN on Friday, January 30, citing inflationary pressures, foreign exchange depreciation, and the need to fund critical airport cargo infrastructure.
FAAN said the cargo port charge had remained unchanged since 2008, despite major shifts in Nigeria’s macroeconomic conditions over the last 18 years. According to the authority, cumulative inflation over the period stood at about 287 per cent, making the former ₦7 charge financially unsustainable.
Using data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), FAAN noted that a service priced at ₦7 in 2008 would cost roughly ₦27.09 today to retain the same value. It explained that the new ₦20 tariff was deliberately set below this inflation-adjusted benchmark to reduce the burden on cargo operators.
“FAAN has increased tariffs after careful consideration of current economic realities. Our tariffs have remained static since 2008,” the authority said.
“Over the past 18 years, Nigeria has experienced significant inflation and a drastic depreciation of the naira. This adjustment is essential to sustain and upgrade critical airport infrastructure, which has become financially unsustainable under the old rates.”
FAAN also pointed to foreign exchange pressures as a key factor. In 2008, the naira was about ₦ 118 per $1, compared with roughly ₦ 1,500 per $1 today.
Since key airport infrastructure components — including runway asphalt, aerodrome lighting and fire truck parts — are imported, the authority said operating and maintenance costs have risen by over 1,000 per cent in naira terms.
Addressing concerns about double taxation, FAAN clarified that its cargo port charge is distinct from fees charged by concessionaires.
While the FAAN fee covers shared airport infrastructure such as runways, taxiways, perimeter fencing, security, access roads and airfield lighting, concessionaire charges apply to cargo handling, storage and documentation within private terminals.
The authority said that even with the revised tariff, Nigeria’s cargo charges remain competitive within West Africa, noting that rates at Nigerian airports were previously lower than those at major regional hubs such as Kotoka International Airport in Ghana and Cotonou Airport in Benin.
FAAN downplayed the potential impact on consumer prices, stating that the cargo port charge represents only a small fraction of total air freight costs. It added that improved infrastructure could reduce delays, enhance turnaround times and improve overall efficiency across the cargo value chain.
Revenue from the revised tariff will be reinvested in cargo-related projects, including the rehabilitation of aprons and access roads, enhanced perimeter security and upgrades to airfield lighting.
FAAN also plans to deploy a Cargo Community System for digital documentation, introduce a truck call-up system at the Premier Cargo Terminal and expand domestic cargo infrastructure.
Cargo operators and other industry stakeholders have been formally notified of the review, with FAAN describing the adjustment as a long-delayed but strategic investment aimed at building a resilient and future-ready air cargo ecosystem in Nigeria.
The development comes amid broader cost adjustments in the aviation sector. On December 1, 2025, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) introduced an $11.5 security charge under the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), bringing the total security levy per passenger ticket to $31.50.
