The Director of Cargo Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr Uchenna Ofulue, on Monday said the fresh cargo initiative would create socio-economic value chain for the country.
Ofulue while speaking in Abuja said the cargo initiative would make Nigeria the centre for cargo business in Africa.
He said the principal target of the initiative was the rural farmer, due to the fact that a lot of farm produce got wasted and farmers did not have value for their labour.
He said: “The new cargo fresh produce initiative is going to make very positive impact on the socio-economic life of the country. We are working assiduously to make Nigeria a hub. Perishable cargo initiative has a lot of socio-economic value chain that is going to provide windows of opportunities for employment of Nigerians.
“The transport sector is going to be impacted on because these fresh produce, upon harvest, will be transported from the rural villages to the nearest cargo airport where they will eventually be lifted out of the country.
“So, the transport sector is going to provide employment, empowerment to the people, and this social problem of urban-rural migration is going to be addressed.”
Ofulue said Nigerian farmers usually did not have profit return for their investment, adding that the initiative was going to turn around the challenges in the country.
According to him, as a result of the fresh cargo initiative, a lot of micro industries will spring up in rural settlements and this will enhance employment.
He said the initiative would increase the exportation of farm produce and enable rural farmers to make profit in foreign currency.
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