Cargo handling associations at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos have petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller General, Director-General of Civil Aviation, and other key stakeholders over the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria's (FAAN) plan to demolish their secretariats.
The affected groups, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics (APFFLON), and National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) claim the action breaches a 15-year agreement with FAAN that provided temporary office space pending a permanent cargo village.
The dispute escalated with FAAN's new cargo tariff, effective February 2, 2026, raising charges from N7 to N25 per kilogram, a 257% increase.
The agents argue this violates International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules requiring stakeholder consultation and majority agreement before hikes.
In a January 27, 2026, letter titled "Immediate Notice to Quit MMA Premises," FAAN's Airport Manager and Regional General Manager (South-West), Olatokunbo Arewa, ordered immediate vacation, referencing an earlier April 30, 2025, notice and warning of enforcement without further notice.
The associations, in a joint January 30 reply signed by chairmen Temitope Akindele (ANLCA), Udo Udoka (NAGAFF), Quadri Olorunfunmi (APFFLON), and Abu Abdul (NAFFAC), rejected the tariff and accused FAAN of refusing dialogue.
A requested meeting with FAAN's Directorate of Cargo was reportedly declined via phone.Industry figure Dr. Segun Musa told The Guardian the demolition threat is retaliation for opposing the tariff increase.
He stressed that FAAN allocated the premises officially, with a promise of alternatives that have not materialized under current Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku's leadership.
The agents have also alerted the Airport Police Command, Military Command, Customs, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Department of State Services (DSS), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), NACCIMA, and others, urging intervention to avert disruption.
They warn that proceeding without resolution could harm cargo operations at Nigeria's busiest airport and call for a halt to the tariff and demolition pending proper engagement.
FAAN has defended the tariff as essential for infrastructure and sustainability but has not publicly commented on the demolition claims. The standoff risks escalating into protests or litigation if unresolved.
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