The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Firstway FZE and Global Software & Digital Solution to implement a Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information system for air cargo moving through Nigeria, in a step the regulator says is aimed at strengthening aviation security and the integrity of the country's air cargo supply chain.
The agreement, signed on 27 August 2026, will initially focus on inbound air cargo and lays out a framework for technology deployment, stakeholder onboarding, and operational assessment ahead of a fuller rollout. Known by the acronym PLACI, the system is designed to give regulators and security agencies cargo information before shipments are loaded onto an aircraft, rather than relying mainly on inspections after cargo has already arrived at a Nigerian airport.
Screening Cargo Before It Reaches an Airport
By assessing shipment data earlier in the supply chain, the NCAA said the framework would give authorities more time to evaluate potential security concerns and coordinate a response before cargo reaches the physical inspection stage. The regulator described the lengthy preparation behind the MoU as reflecting the technical and regulatory considerations involved in deploying a system that touches multiple stakeholders across freight forwarders, ground handlers, and airlines, and said the agreement establishes a basis for onboarding those participants as the system is assessed within Nigeria's aviation environment.
Part of a Broader Digitisation Drive
The PLACI agreement adds to a series of digital initiatives the NCAA has pursued this year, including an EMPIC digital licensing platform and a planned RFID baggage-tracking system, as the regulator works to modernise oversight tools across Nigeria's aviation sector. The authority said the cargo security initiative would contribute to a safer and more internationally aligned air cargo regime as Nigeria's freight volumes continue to grow.
