Nigeria, DALIL UAE partner for advanced air cargo information systems

A Nigerian aviation delegation, led by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has concluded a strategic mission to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to explore Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) systems aimed at transforming Nigeria’s aviation and cargo sector.

The visit, hosted by DALIL UAE at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the UAE Command and Control Centre, provided the Delegation with first-hand exposure to world-class cargo management and aviation security technology.

Key highlights of the mission included technical briefings by DALIL UAE – a globally recognised provider of aviation security and ACI solutions, tour of the ACI and Command Centers- showcasing how real-time data improves cargo processing, risk profiling, and revenue collection and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government of Nigeria and DALIL UAE to establish a framework for ACI deployment across Nigerian airports.

The MoU provides for cooperation, technical support, and phased implementation of ACI systems, beginning with feasibility studies in October 2025 and a nationwide rollout by Q3 2026.

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The Honourable Minister emphasised that ACI adoption will strengthen aviation security through early detection of high-risk cargo, improve efficiency and reduce clearance bottlenecks and Enhance government revenue assurance through real-time data.

Others he mentioned include facilitating trade and positioning Nigeria as a regional logistics hub.

He said this partnership will ensure compliance with ICAO/WCO global standards.

With this agreement, Nigeria is set to lead West Africa in aviation digital transformation, leveraging DALIL UAE’s proven expertise to build a more secure, efficient, and globally competitive cargo ecosystem.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.