The affected operators belong to major freight forwarding bodies, including the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics (APFFLON) and the National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC). Collectively, the groups have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Director-General of Civil Aviation and other security and regulatory agencies over the development.
The protest is unfolding against the backdrop of FAAN’s decision to implement a revised cargo tariff across airports nationwide, effective Monday, February 2, 2026. Under the new pricing regime, the cargo levy is expected to jump from ₦7 per kilogramme to ₦25 per kilogramme, a sharp increase that has drawn stiff opposition from the freight forwarders.
According to the associations, the threatened demolition of their secretariats is directly linked to their refusal to accept the tariff hike. They argue that the proposed increase violates the recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which require that any adjustment to aviation charges must be preceded by broad stakeholder consultations and consensus among affected parties.
Their concerns intensified following a letter titled “Immediate Notice to Quit MMA Premises”, dated January 27, 2026, and signed by FAAN’s Airport Manager and Regional General Manager (Southwest), Olatokunbo Arewa. In the letter, FAAN directed the associations to vacate their offices immediately, warning that enforcement would follow without further notice. The authority also referenced an earlier notice allegedly issued on April 30, 2025.
Part of the notice read that FAAN had previously instructed the groups to vacate the premises and accused them of failing to comply, adding that the authority would proceed with enforcement if they did not leave immediately.
The cargo agents, however, insist that their occupation of the premises is legitimate. They maintain that FAAN officially allocated the secretariats to them about 15 years ago, with a clear understanding that a permanent cargo village would be provided before any relocation or eviction.
In a joint letter dated January 30, 2026, and signed by the chairmen of the four associations—Temitope Akindele (ANLCA), Udo Udoka (NAGAFF), Quadri Olorunfunmi (APFFLON) and Abu Abdul (NAFFAC)—the groups formally rejected the tariff increment and accused FAAN of acting in bad faith. They said ongoing engagements within the cargo segment of the aviation industry were meant to build consensus, but alleged that FAAN had frustrated dialogue by declining a requested meeting with its Directorate of Cargo on January 30.
“This attitude negates the spirit of peaceful co-existence and undermines the principles of official business conduct,” the associations stated, urging FAAN to suspend the new tariff in view of its potential economic and operational consequences.
Beyond security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, the Airport Military Command and Customs authorities, the cargo agents also notified key private-sector stakeholders, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and NACCIMA, warning that the dispute could disrupt cargo operations and trade facilitation.
Speaking at the weekend, a prominent cargo operator, Dr. Segun Musa, described the planned demolition as a clear breach of the agreement between FAAN and the freight forwarders. He said the secretariats were officially allocated pending the development of a permanent cargo village.
“There is nothing like illegal stay as claimed by FAAN,” Musa said. “FAAN allocated this place to us officially, with the promise that a permanent cargo village would be provided before we could be asked to leave. That has not happened.”
He added that effective cargo operations within an airport environment require a designated cargo village, stressing that ordering agents to vacate without providing an alternative amounted to administrative high-handedness.
FAAN defends tariff hike
FAAN, however, has defended the proposed tariff increase, arguing that Nigeria’s aviation sector has for decades been constrained by outdated airport charges amid rising operational costs. In a statement released over the weekend, the authority said it manages 22 airports nationwide under severe financial pressure caused by tariffs that have remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years.
According to FAAN, inflation, increased security demands, higher fuel prices and escalating maintenance and technology costs have significantly eroded the value of existing charges. It noted that operating a modern aviation system in 2026 using revenue structures designed in the early 2000s is no longer sustainable.
“The conversation on new airport charges is not merely about revenue,” FAAN stated. “It is about aviation safety, sustainability and modernization. Nigeria cannot build world-class airports on 2002 prices.”
The authority added that the revised charges are aimed at improving safety, modernising infrastructure, enhancing service quality, meeting global standards and restoring the competitiveness of Nigerian airports.
As tensions rise, industry watchers warn that failure to resolve the standoff through dialogue could disrupt cargo operations and strain relationships within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.