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Tag: Nahco

  • NAHCO wins award 

    NAHCO wins award 

    Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, (Nahco Aviance) has emerged overall winner in the Transportation & Aviation Industry category of the 2015/2016 edition of the Nigerian Risk Awards.

    The award according to its spokesman, Tayo Ajakaye, is testimony to the company’s spirit of resilience and hard work.

    He said the firm having emerged the runner-up in the last edition, took creative steps to clinch the award the next year.

    NAHCO, he said, was  scored by the judges as the winner in a field that parades top brands.

    In the words of Adewale Akinwale, Head, Enterprise Risk Management of the Company:”  NAHCO  earned this through our hard work and commitment to safety, efficiency and dedication towards improving our bottom-line revenue in the interest of our shareholders.”

    According to him, the company recorded a 99.6 percent reduction in cargo claims in the year under review, from N53 million in 2014 to less than N200, 000 in 2015.

    “We had zero aircraft damages. We cut our cargo claims payment down from N53, 434,096.03 in 2014 to just N177, 356.78 in 2015. We achieved all these despite the threat of economic collapse due to 2015 general election fears, highly volatile foreign exchange rates which led to reductions in cargo volumes and passenger numbers, crippling fuel scarcity situations which grounded many organisations to a halt and in the face of an unethical industry competition”.

    Meanwhile, NAHCO Free Trade Zone (NFZ), a subsidiary of the firm has announced the appointment of Arc Usman Arabi Bello as Chairman.

    Bello, who was before now the Vice Chairman of the company, took over from Mr. Bolaji Balogun who retired in March.

    A widely-travelled properly expert, Bello is also an administrator of repute.  His directional managerial responsibilities cover the consultancy consortium Ericon Bello & Associates and its subsidiary, Arabi Bello & Associates, where he is principal partner.

    He sits on the boards of quite a number of companies including  HNB Security and  Protection Company Limited as Chairman;  Bello Group of Companies and ZycomSurveillance Inc.

    Architect  Bello’s professional career in Architecture and other related fields has beenpurposeful and productive. A long standing member of the Nigeria Institute of Architects and Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Bello has brought his own signature approach to the design and execution of buildings to enrich the built environment. His works are legion in parts of Nigeria notably Kaduna, Yola, Lagos and Abuja.

    Bello had been with the NAHCO  Free Trade Zone since its establishment and has significantly contributed to its growth. His new assignment would enable him give focused guidance to the executive management of the company.

    NFZ is a product of Nahco Aviance diversification strategy  which went full flare a few  years back.

     

  • NAHCO Aviance donates to charity

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has extended its philanthropic gesture to the inmates of Home for the Elderly as well as the Compassion Centre for the Physically Challenged, both in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    It donated food items, medical equipment and cash. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, who led the firm’s team,comprising the Manager, Corporate Governance and Stakeholder Relations, Uche Maduemesi and Manager, Port Harcourt Station, Stanley Okiti, expressed nahco aviance’resolve to  identify with organisations that engage in services to humanity.

    Bielderman told officials and inmates of the home: “We are glad to make these donations to you as part of our giving back to the society. NAHCO Aviance is a socially responsible company that cares for the welfare of the less privileged. We will continue to offer our support.’’

    He added: “I want to encourage you, caregivers for the wonderful work you are doing because it is not easy to care for the sick and the elderly in the society. We will visit again when time permits. Please continue your good work.”

  • NAHCO assures shareholders continuous of returns

    NAHCO assures shareholders continuous of returns

    The Chairman of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Alhaji Suleiman Yahyah, has assured stock market operators that it will  continue to  provide steady returns to shareholders in form of dividends and bonuses.

    Speaking at the Closing Gong Sounding ceremony on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday, Yahyah said since the company was privatised and listed on the exchange in 2006, it has remained consistent with dividend payment.

    “I want to assure shareholders that this year will not be different. We will continue to declare healthy dividend in line with our consistent dividend strategy,” he said.

    According to him, since its privatisation, the company has embarked on business diversification programme that cuts across industries and geography. He said  the company  has  developed strategic global alliances through its membership of aviance, the global alliance of 10 reputable airport service providers operating from 112 stations in 17 countries, and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), which exists to promote the air cargo industry and world trade.

    Yahyah noted that  from a single business company, NAHCO has grown into a diversified  group that is not only in cargo and passengers handling, but is also into agriculture,  free trade zone and energy.

    He said: “We are ready to go on the investment in the free trade zone. The licence has been secured, the partnership with International Development Ireland,had been signed, management is in place and   market is looking good. We are also investing in our agric zone development ,which is part of  free trade zone, a sub element of  using our platforms in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Already 10 per cent of our earnings  is coming from export. So we want to deepen it  in view of the difficulty now in the forex market. So  we will fast track that investment and hopefully,  that should begin  show in our  performance by the end of  2016. Besides, we are also are moving to other  African countries. We are licensed in Senegal and Cote d I’voire. Now is the time to make those investment decisions active.”

    He disclosed that NAHCO  invested over N10 billion in equipment, saying these equipment made the company to be about 150 per cent   self-sufficiency.

    He said the company has enough equipment and is ready  for the new terminals that are coming  Lagos,  Port  Harcourt, Kano and Abuja Terminals.

    “Our future remains to deepen our market presence, deepen our corporate governance culture and strengthen the board, which is stable and experienced and management to face the challenges in the economy. We also believe that our agric zone and free trade zone will provide continuous sustainability to the investors,” he said.

  • Minister orders probe into use of ladder at Bauchi Airport

    Minister orders probe into use of ladder at Bauchi Airport

    …NAHCO denies involvement in incident 

    The  Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has directed an immediate investigation into the use of an unauthorized equipment by Aero Contractors Airlines at the conclusion of a charter flight to Bauchi over the weekend.

     

    This is just as one of the ground handling companies, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO) Plc said it is was not involved in the incident because it does not operate at Bauchi Airport .
    The minister spoke through the deputy director in charge of press and public affairs in the ministry, Mr James Odaudu.

     

    Several reports received by the Minister have indicated that the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the  Bauchi airport on Saturday December 19th 2015.
    According to the Minister, the act is inconsistent with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).
    The investigation will determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to developing and implementing measures that will prevent a reoccurrence of the unsafe and unacceptable procedure that exposed passengers to high risk of serious injury.

     

    He reiterated that if the airline is found culpable, the full weight of sanctions within extant laws and regulations would be applied on it.

    The Minister assures the traveling public that the Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation  Authority (NCAA) will ensure strict adherence to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations as well as ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices by all operators.

    Sirika further states that the ministry will not fail  in its responsibility to ensure a safe and secure air transport services which he views as sacrosanct.
    Meanwhile, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) on Sunday said it was not responsible for the ordeals of Aero contractors at Bauchi airport where its passengers had to disembark from an aircraft with a ladder on Saturday.

     

    In a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Tayo Ajakaye ,  NAHCO  said,  “The attention of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) has been drawn to reports making rounds on the social media to the effect that it was its failure to provide handling service to one of its esteemed clients, Aero Contractors, that caused passengers of the airline to disembark with ladder at the Bauchi Airport.

     

    “Nothing can be further from the truth. NAHCO does not have operations in Bauchi. This fact is well known to Aero and all our client airlines. So, for Aero to embark on that chartered flight to Bauchi, it definitely would have made its own private arrangements.

     

    “Aero’s statement in this regard is particularly clear. It never mentioned NAHCO, nor for that matter, any ground handler as the reason it had to innovate.”

  • NAHCO takes over management of Osubi Airport

    NAHCO takes over management of Osubi Airport

    Ground handling services provider nahco Aviance has taken over the running of Osubi Airport in Warri, Delta State.

    The airport is owned by Shoreline Group.

    The company,  according to its spokesman, Tayo Ajakaye,  is implementing the letters of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Shoreline Group which would provide ground handling services at the Osubi Airport.

    The agreement, Ajakaye said, gives nahco aviance exclusive right for ground handling services at the airport including  passenger ramp, and cargo operation.

    Some domestic  carriers  are currently operating in Osubi Airport. They include Aero, Arik, and Escravos .

    The MoU, he said, provides for NAHCO  aviance to negotiate separate agreements with the other operators using the airport.

    Expressing his delight over the new deal, the Chief Commercial Officer of the company, Mr. Seyi Adewale, said that there had been good benefits from Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and FGN’s concessionaire initiatives in the aviation sub-sector.

    According to him, “Airports within the country now have opportunities for new capital (investments) to improve airport infrastructure and also improve the overall airport architecture that helps to  facilitate excellent passenger experience within our borders.

    “Using this partnership model, we are currently witnessing concessioned airport terminals outperforming the publicly managed airport terminals and many of these concessioned airports rely on NAHCO in-part to achieve this feat.

    “Specific to Osubi Airport, we would be bringing over 35years  aviation ground handling capabilities to further accentuate the excellent passenger  experience through skilled manpower .”

  • NAHCO spends N1.5b on equipment

    Nahco Viance said it has spent N15billion to procure new equipment.

    It has started deploying to major airports across the country.

    In a statement, it noted that the equipment started arriving the country last month and were being deployed in all airports where nahco operates.

    Its Head, Corporate Services, Ahmed Bashir Gulma, said: “We are deploying these new equipment in the airports to satisfy our domestic and international clients. The equipment are the types you will find in the best of modern airports in the world.”

    Gulma further said the first batch of the 131 units of Ground Support Equipment, (GSE) arrived the country last month and had been deployed even as the Federal Government was still putting finishing touches to the airports it was re-modelling across the country.

    Among the GSE are aircraft passenger steps, self-propelled pallet transporter, belt loaders, wide aircraft cargo loaders, aircraft tow loaders and towable toilet service units.

    Others include towable fuel bowsers, pallet dollies, container dollies, baggage trailers, belt loaders and ACUs.

    Industry watchers say retooling is a cardinal principle of management of the company. Nahco Aviance constantly re-equips for added efficiency, adding that it has a culture of deploying state-of-the-art equipment as part of its re-investment strategies.

    Last March, it reported that it invested more than N700 million in equipment purchase.

    Its Managing Director Mr. Norbert Bielderman said the purchase was preceded by another huge investment in equipment in the two years preceding last year.

    The investment in equipment is matched in equal measure with investment in the company’s human resource.

    With the acquisition, the company has further boosted its global rating as the ground handling firm in West Africa.

  • NCAA okays new cargo charges for nahco

    NCAA okays new cargo charges for nahco

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given the nod to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco Aviance) to implement a 20 per cent increase in cargo tariff.

    Under the new regime, nahco will charge N46 per kilogramme for cargo as against the old fee of N38. Courier handling charge will cost N54 per kilogramme as against N45.

    The approval was contained in a letter signed by its Director-General, Captain Muhktar Usman to the Managing Director Nahco, Mr Nobert Bielderman.

    The letter reads: “In line with powers conferred on the Authority by Part 18.7.3.1 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2012, approval is hereby given to your company to increase the Import Handling Charge from N38/kg to N46/kg and the Courier Handling Charge from N45/kg to N54/kg as agreed with the stakeholders.”

    The NCAA chief praised nahco for consulting with stakeholders before embarking on the increase,

    NCAA said: “We wish to advise that Nahco Aviance should continue to ensure adequate consultations with the stakeholders in line with the laid down guidelines and regulations guiding review or introduction of any charge.”

    It said NCAA should be invited as an observer in future consultations.

    Nahco and the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) last month agreed to a 20 per cent tariff increment.

    At a meeting at the head office of Nahco in Lagos, on May 15, the negotiating team of ANCLA led by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Bola Ashiru-Balogun, the Treasurer, Afolabi Azeez and the Financial Secretary, Obanla Alex, said they reached the agreement with NAHCO in the interest of the industry.

     

  • NAHCO donates bus to ANCLA

    THE Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (nahco aviance) has donated a brand new  Toyota Hiace bus to the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) NAHCO.

    During the presentation at the company’s head office in Ikeja, Lagos, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, said NAHCO considers ANLCA as vital to its  groundhandling business. He said NAHCO places premuim on the welfare of ANLCA and its members.

    Chairman of ANLCA, Mr Aloy Igwe; the Vice Chairman, Bola Ashiru-Balogun, and other excutive members expressed the appreciation  to Nahco’s management.

    He said NAHCO by its gesture was solidifying their relationship.

    According to Igwe, ANLCA has a good relationship with NAHCO. In his words: “A good relationship already exists but this will only strengthen the tie even more.”

    Both bodies pledged to sustain the  relationship between them and sought for cooperation in new areas.

    After the handing over, Igwe drove the bus round with NAHCO and ANLCA officials in the bus.

    At the event were the company’s Secretary, Mrs. Folasade Ode; Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Hassan Yahaya; Head Corporate Services, Ahmed Bashir Gulma; Chief Commercial Officer, Seyi Adewale and  Head, Special Projects, Keleshi Amaeshi.

     

  • NAHCO bows to agents’ demand

    •Firm reduces cargo tarrif by 20 %

    THE last may not have been heard about Nigerian Aviation Handling Company’s (NAHC’s) decision to raise cargo tariff by 20 per cent. HAHCo initially raised the tariff by 30 per cent but was forced to reduce it to 20 per cent following protests by the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agent (ANCLA).

    NAHCO and the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited  (SAHCOL) are the major cargo and passenger handling firms at the nation’s airports nationwide.

    Importers and exporters paid N40 per kilogramme for cargo before the hike, but following the increment, they were expected to pay N52 per kilogramme, being 30 per cent increase

    Following resistance by ANCL and National Assocition of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAF), NACHO reduced the tariff to 20 per cent, meaning that they would now pay N48 per kilogramme.

    In an interview, NAHCo  spokesman, Tayo Ajakaye, said the tariff reviewing process started in March, this year.

    Ajakaye said the firm agreed to adjust the increment in cargo tariff from 30 per cent to 20 per cent based on the complaints.

    He said NAHCO and ANCLA settled for 20  percent increase last Thursday, adding  “The new agreement means that NAHCO would have to revise downward the initial 30 percent increase it had started implementing while ANCLA would move up from zero to 20 percent.

    Under the new arrangement importers and exporters would now pay N48 per kilogramme for cargo.

    He went on: “In a meeting at the head office of NAHCO in Lagos, the negotiating team of ANCLA led by the Vice – Chairman, Bola Ashiru-Balogun, with the Treasurer, Afolabi Azeez and the Financial Secretary, Obanla Alex, reached the agreement with NAHCO in the interest of the overall development of the industry and in realisation of the fact that both sides are in the current tough economic situation.”

    Ashiru-Balogun described the adjustment as a bold step by the cargo firm, saying: “This is the first time in a long while that NAHCO would get its act right.”

    Ashiru-Balogun said although NAHCO described the agreement as a win-win situation,the feeling among agents is mixed, adding: “Though the tariff was expected, the implementation is being received with a mixed feeling among our members. To our teeming members, it is a lose –win situation.

    NAHCO won this time and should be congratulated. However, ANCLA would win the next time.

    “This is why we are calling for stronger relationship between the two partners. There is need to always consult ANCLA whenever issues that concern us are decided,” he added.

  • NAHCO increases cargo charges

    NAHCO increases cargo charges

    Clearing agents and freight forwarders at airports nationwide are to pay more for the clearing of inbound and out bound cargoes under the new tariff  arrangement put in place by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), it was learnt yesterday .

    The  30 per cent increase in cargo charges, is a  fall out of the meeting held between the agents and officials of the cargo firm a few months ago.

    According to a source, both NAHCO and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA ) at a meeting at the firm’s headquarters on  May 11 this year agreed on the increase in cargo tariff on the day it took effect, but were still sorting out issues bordering on the prescribed percentage .

    Sources at the meeting said it was agreed that the only way to develop the industry and make the air cargo industry in Nigeria a world class is to allow a tariff review which would encourage investment in equipment and human resource.

    Confirming the development, the spokesman of NAHCO, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, said it is line with industry standards.

    Asked why some agents seem to be in disagreement with the tariff increase, he said: “You know, we did all we were required to do. We consulted everyone , body, agency and stakeholder that needed to be consulted. But of course you will agree with me that no one wants a price increase. So it is understandable if quite a few are raising dust. We should expect that.”

    The source said NAHCO had to implement review in tariff on account of the huge cost of operational equipment , which has gone up on account of the falling value of the naira.

    The source also cited other factors not limited to the huge costs of getting spare parts which are imported as well as the over 500 per cent increase in airport charges .

    The source said: ”Cost of equipment has gone up as a result of the fall of the naira. Unfortunately 95 per cent of the equipment used by ground handling companies of international repute is imported.

    “Spare parts for the equipment that are currently in service are also imported; meaning operators would still need to spend more dollars.

    “FAAN charges are hiked every year. Apron passes are increased by as much as 300 per cent or 500 per cent in some cases.

    “FAAN bills NAHCO  for power; yet we don’t get the power to use. There are times we would be on generators for two weeks non-stop.

    “FAAN bills us for just anything: including car parks, where you put your mobile toilets for use of agents.”

    The last time tariff was increased was about three years ago; since then a lot of things including the inflation rate has changed in the economy.

    During this time, Nigeria’e economy had become the largest in Africa; yet our rates are lower than in South Africa.

    Increase in rates is the only way to remain competitive and to be able to render superlative service.

    As the only Public Limited Company  (Plc) operating in the sub-sector, Nahco Aviance’ shareholders want return on investment.

    “Since everybody agrees that NAHCO sets the industry benchmark in service delivery in the sector, it is just normal for stakeholder to agree that it should also reap the benefit of its investment/labour,“ they said.