NCAA signs MoU to implement advance cargo security framework
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Firstway FZE and Global Software & Digital Solution (GSDS) to implement the Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) framework in Nigeria.
In a statement obtained on Thursday, the NCAA said the agreement, signed on August 27, 2026, is intended to strengthen aviation security and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s air cargo supply chain.
Implementation will initially focus on inbound air cargo, while the framework will also provide a structured basis for technology deployment, stakeholder onboarding and operational assessment.
Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, described the development as a major step towards a safer and internationally compliant cargo system.
“This is an important milestone in our efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation security architecture and build a safer, more secure and internationally compliant air cargo system,” Najomo said.
He added that the signing of the MoU marked the beginning of implementation work rather than the end of negotiations.
“Signing this agreement is beyond merely reaching an agreement; it marks the beginning of the actual work,” he said, urging the partners to adhere strictly to the agreed procedures.
Najomo assured the parties that “any ambiguity arising during implementation could always be brought back for discussion.”
Speaking for Firstway FZE and GSDS, Mr Peter Igbinedion said the agreement was the result of months of engagement, estimating that the process took “about nine to 10 months, or even longer” to reach the signing stage.
He pledged the companies’ commitment to successful delivery of the project, saying they would “not let the Authority down.”
Igbinedion also thanked the DGCA, NCAA directors and members of staff for the opportunity to contribute to the initiative and the country’s development.
The NCAA’s Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Mary Tufano-Eche, said the long process was necessary to safeguard the Authority’s interests and preserve the integrity of the agreement.
She described the initiative as “a quantum leap for Nigeria,” adding that the country was moving into a relatively new area of air cargo security implementation.
While acknowledging that the MoU might not be perfect at the outset, Tufano-Eche said it was a “living document” that could be reviewed and amended as implementation progresses.
The signing ceremony ended with the formal execution of the MoU and a group photograph, with all parties pledging support for the successful rollout of the PLACI framework.
