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DHL Express, one of the world’s leading international courier services provider, has enhanced its international delivery capabilities in Nigeria with the launch of a new Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft, strengthening its intra-Africa air network and improving connectivity among major cities.
With the launch of the cargo aircraft, DHL becomes the only carrier to offer a dedicated air network in Africa, a further evidence of the importance and potential of the region.
DHL Managing Director, Randy Buday, said at the unveiling ceremony of the aircraft with a capacity to carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo, represents a major breakthrough in local logistics allowing for increased trade between Nigerian cities.
He added that DHL is constantly looking for ways to improve their service offering, having been trucking the majority of the company’s Express consignments within Nigeria as there was little air cargo capacity available on the commercial carriers. He added that the service would ensure overnight deliveries, with considerable improved security and greater reliability.
This development is supported by Nigeria’s fast growing economy as evidenced in the oil and energy sector, fast moving consumer goods, agricultural, mining opportunities and a growing consumer market for imported goods.
‘’Consumerism is booming in Nigeria and, considering the population of over 160 million, we need to continually add capacity for this remarkable growth,” Randy said.
According to him, “We decided to use this plane not only as part of our investment, but also to ease the stress our company has been going through because of the poor road network, which have been affecting our motorbikes and courier vehicles and to satisfy our customers demand. We work with time, irrespective of how many luggage, whether plane is filled to capacity or not, we move because we believe in time management.”
DHL’s state of the art hub and gateway facilities located at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos are the only TAPA “A” approved facilities in Nigeria and boasts in-house customs, cold store facilities, dedicated scanners/explosive detection equipment and state of the art security monitoring equipment 24 hours a day.