FAAN’s Quit Order Sparks Showdown with Freight Forwarders at Lagos Airport

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

A simmering landlord–tenant dispute at Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub has erupted into a full-blown standoff, as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) issued an immediate quit notice to freight forwarding associations occupying the Hajj & Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja.

The directive, which affects the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), and allied groups, threatens to reshape cargo operations at the airport designed to reverberate across the national economy.

In a letter dated January 27, 2026, FAAN reminded the associations of an earlier directive from April 2025, ordering them to vacate the premises. Signed by Olatokunbo Arewa, Airport Manager and Regional General Manager (Southwest), the notice warned that enforcement action would follow if compliance was not immediate.

The Authority has not disclosed its plans for the vacated spaces, but industry observers suggest the move is part of a broader restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and tightening control over airport facilities.

The associations, however, see the quit order as both abrupt and destabilizing. In a joint response under the Quadripartite Association , comprising ANLCA, NAGAFF, APFFLON, and NAFFAC,  the groups rejected FAAN’s directive and raised alarm over a proposed hike in port charges from N7.00 to N20.00 per kilogram, effective February 2, 2026.

While acknowledging the need for tariff reviews, the associations insisted that such decisions must be reached through dialogue and consensus. They revealed that a requested meeting with FAAN’s Directorate of Cargo Services was declined, further deepening mistrust between the parties.

Freight forwarders and customs brokers are not mere tenants; they are critical players in Nigeria’s trade and logistics ecosystem. Their operations at MMA underpin cargo clearance, customs facilitation, and supply chain efficiency. Analysts warn that abrupt displacement or unilateral tariff hikes could disrupt cargo flows, inflate costs for businesses, and ripple into consumer prices nationwide.

The group’s statement was signed by Temitope Akindele, Chairman, ANLCA; Udo Udoka, Chairman, NAGAFF; Quadri Olorunfunmi, Chairman, APFFLON and Abu Adbul, Chairman, NAFFAC. The associations have urged their members to remain calm, pledging continued engagement with FAAN while calling for a halt to what they described as a “hurried decision.”

The clash underscores a larger tension between regulatory authorities seeking tighter control and trade groups demanding inclusion in decision-making. With FAAN holding firm on its quit order and the associations pressing for dialogue, the coming weeks may prove decisive.

Whether the dispute ends in enforcement or compromise, the outcome will shape not only airport operations but also Nigeria’s broader trade environment.