The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nahco

  • ‘Poor power supply not good for business’

    ‘Poor power supply not good for business’

    Despite the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), there has been no improvement in electricity supply. Companies are still generating their power or relying on generators. This is not good for business, says Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo, Managing Director of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCo) Plc. In this interview with   KELVIN
    OSA-OKUNBOR, he argues that inadequate power is a “private-sector problem, which is affecting NAHCo a bit”, adding: “We sincerely hope that with the privatisation of power, we will see its impact on our cost profile and we can become more profitable and give our shareholders more dividends”.

    That has been the experience running NAHCo, after 35 years of its existence?

    It is a remarkable feat that the company is still doing well after all these years. Many companies that started about the same time have fallen out of business.

    Though I was not here when the company started, it has come a long way in doing what it knows how to do best. That is just the first perspective, general business, in relation to an industry where we provide a service, in the aviation industry.

    I would like to remind stakeholders that the aviation is about the youngest service industry around the world, compared to either the banking industry or others.

    Even, the brewing industry is older. The aviation industry started about the time the first aircraft was airborne.

    In Nigeria, KLM Airlines is about the oldest. So, if you situate the 35 years of existence of NAHCo within the context of how old the aviation industry is in Nigeria, you will agree that the company has done well.

    What factors are you using as the benchmark for performance?

    Generally speaking, I think aviation in Nigeria has done well. Just as NAHCo in the period under review has done well also.

    One of reasons we believe we have done well is the industry is international and we have carried out operations within the parameters of international standards . We have transformed over the years from being a former state-owned enterprise to a publicly owned company.

    The government used to own 60 per cent equity in NAHCo.

    But today, the company is fully quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has alliance with an international brand – the Aviance Group, a global leader in ground handling. Our alliance partner operates in over 117 airports across the world.

    We have after the privatisation of the company obtained and retained the international ground handling certification – ISAGO certification.

    As a global leader in the business, others have followed us in Nigeria to pursue same certification.

    NAHCo is the first in West Africa to secure the ISAGO certification.

    What are your plans?

    Our plans for the future is to continue the transformation by diversifying into other areas of related business as well as expanding along the West and Central African Coast to replicate similar business of ground handling and passenger ramp services .

    We are planning to extend to these countries what we have done successfully in Nigeria since the past 35 years.

    What has been the winning strategy for NAHCo after its privatisation years ago?

    The hand of God has been upon this company. This is aptly so because I am a man of faith. The second factor NAHCo has moved from one level of accomplishment to another is the corporate policy of insisting on certain standards of services we render.

    We follow as much as possible high standards of corporate governance. This has helped us to finetune our processes even in the recruitment of key persons from competitive sectors of the economy .

    In NAHCo we pursue issues that are value based. This singular strategy has accelerated the growth of NAHCo. It moves in the direction where it can yield returns on investments.

    So, we always look out for what will give us the best in Nigeria; that I think is responsible for our achievements as a company.

    What is the relationship between the level of success and adherence to the principles of corporate governance?

    We have policies that are value driven. This is how we pursue the policy of corporate governance in our operations.

    About four years ago, NAHCo voluntarily invited a team from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to put in place the process that led to our international certification.

    That, for us, is a strategy for international benchmarking. Iy required opening up our operations to a lot of standards, rigours and that has helped us to achieve some success.

    We have also done some local adaptations, but it does not tamper down the standards of our operations. All these have helped us to attain some level of success.

    In our line of business, the minimum standards of safety must be maintained for our clients, who insist on global standards anywhere their aircraft require handling by our personnel.

    We must not compromise on safety and security of our operations . We must strive at all times to keep to our operational standards .

    What is the relationship between NAHCO and Nigeria Customs Service at the Lagos Airport, in view of the recent closure of your bonded warehouse over allegations of poor documentation of cargo?

    We are working hard to engage all stakeholders in the sector including the Nigeria Customs Service. Last year, the warehouses of NAHCo and SAHCOL were shut down over a lot of procedural issues, and the processes of running the warehouses.

    After that experience, we sat down with officials of Customs and other stakeholders, including cargo and clearing agents, and signed a memorandum of understanding stating how we would operate, including the dos and don’ts.

    From that time till date, we have been adhering to the template of the agreement we signed as a guideline.

    One thing I want us to take on board is that if you operate in a bonded Customs warehouse as we do, there must be some level of cooperation between all operators and personnel of the Customs. Such cooperation NAHCo has enjoyed in the past 35 years and will continue to enjoy.

    So, we work hand-in-hand with them to ensure things are done properly in line with international standards. We would ensure that neither NAHCo nor Customs loses out to other stakeholders.

    How has the influx of foreign airlines, especially since 2008 impacted on your business? What is your projection for the future?

    We are in the secondary end of the value chain; the primary decision to fly an airline is taken by passengers and the primary decision to consign goods is taken by a consignee. We do business with the airlines; we are the service providers and not at the retail end. However, of the over 30 foreign airlines that come in, we handle 85 per cent of them including their cargoes. You are right that since 2008, a lot of airlines have come in and I would say we have been able to maintain the same ratio in terms of keeping ourselves at that top.

    On outbound passengers, we will still benefit because we are at the secondary end of the market. As far as we still remain a prosperous country of 170 million people, who have the means to fly for leisure, business and education, we are still on ground as it were to deal with the request of the airlines to be carrying those passengers. In fact, we will say that our joy will be to see a lot more of local participation without compromise for international standards. Our pride in nahco is that we are a Nigerian company; we have been working with foreign airlines for 35 years, delivering services in a local context, but with international standards.

    What are the major challenges confronting your business?

    This is not a nahco alone problem, but a significant problem for the private sector. It has affected us a bit. We run several generators and provide some infrastructure around the airports such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTVs), and a lot of other things. At the end of the day, because the primary issue in this industry revolves around safety and security, we cannot but do these things because if we don’t, we might not be in business.

    If you look at our results in 2011 and 2012, at the profit and loss, you will see that we have been spending lots of money to maintain those things. It’s part of the cost of doing business, but we sincerely hope and pray that with the privatisation of power and other reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government, we will see the impacts of those things on our cost profile and we can become more profitable and give our shareholders more dividends.

    How secured are your warehouses across the country?

    We have moved away from the manual disposition of the pre-2010 era. We are using technology and have recorded a lot of gains. For obvious reasons, I won’t tell you more than that. We are no longer relying on human beings to find out when things occur. This has prevented a lot of things; it has also detected a lot of things. If you go to our Lagos warehouse, you will notice that there is an inscription that says “this place is covered by CCTV.” You can do whatever you like, but we will definitely catch up with you.

    How are you tackling the challenge of luggage delay at the airport?

    There are a few clarifications we have to make in this area. First of all, we are a ground handling company, which means we provide service at an infrastructure owned by the Federal Government. So, we do not own the carousels, which take the luggage to customers. However, we have strict service level agreement with our airlines and I am somebody who flies pretty regularly and I also have people who do mystery shopping for us in nahco. I want to tell you that in the last five to six months, there have been significant improvement in terms of timing of when people get their bags. However, if there is power outage in the whole of a terminal building, that remains a challenge. But in terms of people getting out their baggage on time, I believe this has improved significantly.

    How do intend to extend the frontiers of the business in Africa and beyond?

    In terms of the geographic expansion, it our plans for expansion will be aviation and aviation related areas of business.

    One of the best ways to solve a problem according to mathematics is to move from the known to unknown areas.

    So, our approach is to start from what we know , which is aviation ground handling into other areas of business.

    In the first instance, we will stay within our industry competence, before we will seek to enlarge other opportunities, as they present themselves on a case by case basis.

    NAHCo is one of the few companies that are successful after privatisation and is one of the few publicly quoted in aviation industry. What is the relationship with shareholders?

    The first objective of a company is to preserve and build value. This exactly we have done. The performance of the company is good in the stock market.

    We have tried to keep faith with our shareholders. We are a profit oriented company. In 2005, nahcoaviance was privatized and subsequently listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2006. The company is now owned by over 80, 000 shareholders, including two international airlines – Air France and Lufthansa; as well as local investors; Sycor Private Investment Limited and Rosehill Group Nigeria Limited. The company’s stock exchange symbol is “Nahco”.

    We have always place the interest of our shareholders first and we try to satisfy them. We pay dividends. Though the shareholders will always ask for more. We have the confidence of our shareholders. The performance of the company in the stock exchange is ok.

    NAHCo has a strong alliance with aviance. How has that impacted your business?

    Nahco has developed strategic global alliances through its membership of aviance, the alliance of 10 reputable airport service providers operating from 112 stations in 17 countries. We have a cordial relationship with our partners and we have abided by the MoUs we have with them. The partnership has made us a global player and helped us to maintain international standards. The partnership has helped to train our staff.

    How much has the company invested on training and equipment?

    Prior to transformation the budget for training and equipment was small. But, we have increased that now significantly.

    We have invested more than $50 million in equipment and modernising our warehouses. Training has helped us to retain our international clients. In the last three to four years, we have invested more than N600 million on local and international training of our staff. We are a service provider and so, training is key. We provide value and build value through training.

    When I took over as the Chief Executive of the company, most of the company’s equipment were more than 20 to 30 years old. In the last three years we have invested heavily in equipment and I am proud to say that our equipment are now less than three years old.

    What is your market share of the ground handling operation market?

    There are many airlines that fly into Nigeria. We remain the leader in the market. We have achieved this through innovation, trust and integrity.

    We are the first company to expand facilities and pursue certification. Our competence and integrity have helped us to remain the leader in the market. We are passionate about service as a company. We will continue to leverage on improved services as a way of retaining our position as a leader in the service sector. This has helped us to maintain a leading position.

    We control 85 per cent of the ground handling operations. The company serves more than 35 airlines at seven airports across Nigeria, with plans to expand operations to other African countries.

    What are the biggest challenges?

    Infrastructure at most of the airports. Power supply is the biggest challenge. It has increased the cost of operations. We are hopeful that with privatisation of the power sector, things will improve. We are also recommending to the government that there should be an independent power project for the airports. This will enhance power supply to the airports.

    Also as a leader in ground handling operations in Nigeria, we are the target of attacks by our competitors We are, however, not averse to healthy competition.

     

  • Nahco invests $50m on equipment

    Nahco invests $50m on equipment

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco aviance) management says it has spent over $50 million on ground handling equipment.

    It controls 85 per cent of the market.

    Its Managing Director, Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo, said part of the amount was also spent on mordernisation of the company’s ultra-modern custom bonded warehouse which had in recent times impacted on its operations.

    The Nahcoaviance boss, who made this known,said the organisation after 35 years of operations, now controls 85 per cent of the market.

    He also said the company between 2011 and 2013, spent N600 million on training and other regulatory matters.

    “The training has enabled us to retain international knowledge, we take training and retraining seriously because it has a lot of impact on the company and staff, we are also planning to diversify into related business and expand into African, especially, West-African countries, he said.

    Mrs Oluwasegun-Ojo, who said Nahco aviance retained its leadership position in the market through ‘competence and integrity’, noted that ‘it had always follow high standards of corporate governance’ in doing business.

    “As par our shareholders, they have a reason to repose confidence in us because we have never declared loss”, he added.

    He, however, said power and infrastructure had been a major challenge confronting the company, adding, however, that if the Federal Government could continue with infrastructural renewal going at many airports, ‘it would significantly help the industry to grow’.

    “With the progress of infrastructural renewal being made, we have experienced significant improvements at Kano and Enugu international airports and that has helped our business but sometimes when work is in progress, the conveyor belt for instance, can stop because of power outage, government could consider the option of Independent Power Supply to airports to aid organisations’ businesses,’’ he added.

    Meanwhile, the Grand Patron of Nigerian Professional Pilots (NPP), Captain Nogie Meggison, has called on the Federal Government to put in a place a proactive policy that will address the projected 500 Nigerian licensed pilots that are unemployed.

    He said the number of unemployed pilots is increasing from 200 to an astronomical number when the over 100 student pilots’ sent to Jordan by the Kano State government would graduate later this year.

    This is in addition to the 52 youths trained under the Federal Government Amnesty programme as well as the fresh batches 100 graduating from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), and the 40 from International Aviation College ( IAC), in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    Meggison said unless something fast is done, such development constitutes a disincentive to the growth and development of the Nigerian aviation industry.

    He said well over 400 Nigeria licensed aircraft engineers are also out of job, urging the Federal Government to put in place an employment policy that would ensure these professionals are engaged by both indigenous and foreign carriers operating in the country .

    Meggison said though, some domestic carriers have done well and are engaging some of the pilots but there still room for improvement .

    He said an enabling policy that would check the influx of foreign pilots and engineers by foreign carriers.

    He said there are over 1,000 foreign pilots engaged by both local and foreign registered airlines in Nigeria.

    He lso said apart from the 1,000 foreign pilots, there are over 500 foreign aircraft engineers in the country.

    He said: “The government should compel foreign carriers to set up a line station for aircraft maintenance in the country and employ local engineers to assist in turning around the growth of the sector .

    ‘’They should look into other avenues also, if policies are not put in place, the challenge of unemployment of pilots and engineers may not be soon resolved.”

    He continued: “It is shameful that Nigerian licensed youth pilots are now driving “ Kabu “ “ Kabu “ to make ends meet .

    ‘’This is unacceptable .! Not that there’re no jobs but jobs at taken by foreigners.

    ‘’Over the years, the aviation industry has grown . About six years ago , the number of private jets has increased from 20 to 150.”

    He added: “Even commercial airplanes have grown from 20 to 100, but it has not reflected to the employment of our youths, who are trained as pilots.”

    He said it was time the Federal Government implemented the local content policies in the sector to create room for the employment of indigenous professionals, as it the practice in most parts of the world.

    Meggison cited India, Cameroon, Russia and Egypt, where policies that prescribes that on every airplane cockpit there must be a national passport holder inside exist.

    “For any aircraft that is flying in such countries,whether local or foreign registered, once the airplane has stayed in the country for more 30days, it must comply with cockpit laws,” he said.

    He also said apart from the implementation of the policy, another way to generate jobs for professionals is in the establishment of aircraft maintenance centres.

    Meggison said:”The government needs a policy to create avenues for qualified youths to get employment in the aviation sector .

    “About 2000 skilled professional jobs can be created in first year, while 5000 skill jobs could be created by the next three years easily.

    One way to achieve is to compel foreign airlines to open aircraft maintenance line station in Nigeria, where aircraft engineers could be employed.

    “We need policies to drive employment of both indigenous pilots and aircraft engineers.

    “This is the prawctice in other countries of the world, government creates a conducive policy to drive employment of key professionals.

    “In countries, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt, their governments have perfected plans on how to use their aviation sector to create jobs for their youths.”

    He added: “This explains why these countries export skilled professionals including pilots, aircraft engineers, cabin crew quality assurance mangers and technicians to other parts of the world.

    “There is no reason Nigeria with her over estimated 170 million population should be exporting skilled aviator to other parts of year world.

    “If one of every five black man is a Nigerian why can’t we produce one aviation professional out of every five African aviator.”

    The government needs to address this problem. Even, the last batch of 30 aircraft engineers that graduated from NCAT, not even one is yet to get jobs.

    “There are over 500 foreign aircraft engineers working in Nigeria. Most of the foreign carriers are putting flying spanners (engineers ) on board in the business class to fly to Nigeria instead of setting up a line station.

    “There is need for the government policies to make them open line maintenance stations to provide hands on job training for Nigerians youths.

    “So that they can gradually start transferring skill to our Nigerian youths.

    “On board any Emirates or Qatar Airways flight, there is always other nationals from other countries who are are aviation professionals exported to other countries. Whereas Nigerian with her vast population is no where to be found,on the international scene.’’

  • How to improve NAHCO, by MD

    The Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco Aviance), Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo has urged the staff to remain focused.

    Speaking at a retreat for the employees,Olusegun-Ojo described the company as a “premium brand” which requires collaboration to make it better.

    He said as the foremost ground handling firm, “we must deliver services beyond the expectations of our clients and when the customer comes first, the customer will last,” adding that he was delighted at the company’s achievements last year.

    At another forum attended by airline executives, cargo agents, aviation correspondents, Customs officers, service providers, senior management staff and directors, he said Nahco Aviance would strive to give its best to customers, urging the staff and clientele to “have faith in the company”.

    The Chairman, Mallam Sulaiman Yahyah, appreciated stakeholders for staying with the firm, promising that the organisation would surpass their expectations.

    He said the board does not handle operational issues with levity, hence, the upgrade of its operational head.

    He assured that the firm’s performance would always improve because of the implementation its equipment acquisition plan religiously.

    Yahyah said the restructuring embarked upon by company had yielded results adding that the firm would soon roll out a six-year plan, covering 2014- 2020, to help in transforming it to a first class organisation.

    Another highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to some deserving clients,including Lufthansa, Air France, DHL, Saudi Airlines, Aero and Ethiopian Airlines.

  • Why ground handling business is unattractive, by agency chief

    Why ground handling business is unattractive, by agency chief

    INVESTORS in the aviation sector are shying away from putting their money in ground, ramp , passenger and cargo handling services because of the huge capital required to procure operational equipment, investigations have revealed.

    Apart from the huge capital outlay, low returns on investment , high insurance premium and recurring incidence at the apron where aircraft clip wings also account for the investors’ reluctance.

    While many investors rush into setting up airlines, which could either be scheduled or charter, many consider ground, ramp, passenger and cargo handling as high risk.

    With dozens of foreign airlines, both passenger and cargo flying into the country, there are a few formidable ground, ramp and passenger handling companies with Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO), PLc and Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), leading the pack.

    Both firms handle major passenger and cargo airlines which fly into the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and other airports. While only SAHCOL and NAHCO have heavy duty equipment for cargo, ramp and passenger handling at the 22 airports in the country, other firms merely provide ancillary services at the Lagos Airport.

    The Managing Director of SAHCOl, Mr Oluropo Owolabi attributed the investors’ reluctance to go into ground and cargo handling to the huge cost of procuring handling equipment.

    He said it costs about $500,000 per piece to procure some handling equipment.

    Owolabi said some big cargo aircraft, including the Boeing 747-800 and other freighter will require not less than four of such equipment to handle one aircraft.

    He said only big players in the cargo and ground handling business could spend as much as $2 million to acquire operational equipment to handle big aircraft.

  • NAHCO donates airport equipment

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Nahco Aviance, has donated medical equipment to airports across the country. It donated a defibrillator to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA2, Ikeja.

    A defibrillator is used for delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to an affected heart and this particular one is an automated external defibrillators (AEDs) which automates the diagnosis of treatable rhythms.

    The equipment could be used by lay responders or bystanders successfully with little, or in some cases, no training at all.

    Announcing the donation, the Chairman of the company, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, represented by Mr. Ikechukwu Nwachukwu a Director of the company, said the gesture is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the airport community.

    He stated that it is the company’s hope that all stakeholders will come together to provide the needed support for the industry to grow .

    On his own part, the Chief Executive Officer of Bi-Courtney, Mr. Christophe Pennick, commended the management of Nahco Aviance for the gesture, promising to put the equipment to good use .

    He assured that a clinic will soon be commissioned to the delight of all the airport users.

    Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi, represented by the Director, Security Services of FAAN, Sir. Wendell Ogunedot lauded NAHCO aviance for the foresight and called all stakeholders to emulate the company.

    Meanwhile, arrangement is on for the donation of similar equipment to other airports across the country.

    nahco aviance last week handled the inaugural flight of Turkish Airlines to Kano .

    Also , Mr. Norbert Bielderman, has been elevated Executive Director Operations of nahco aviance. Before the elevation, he was the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

  • NAHCO wins ITF award

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Plc (NAHCO Aviance) has emerged the best company in Human Capital Development.

    It won the award at a ceremony organised by the Ikeja zone of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

    The organisers said the award was in recognition of the leading role NAHCO Aviance played in the training schedule of the fund.

    NAHCO’s General Manager, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Mr Umar Birmah, received the award from the Apapa Area Office Coordinator of the ITF, Mrs. Aniele Peters.

    She hailed the NAHCO Aviance management for being a partner in progress.

    The ITF coordinator urged other organisations to emulate the effort.

    NAHCO is the only ground-handling company in Nigeria with an IATA Certified Learning and Development Centre.

    The centre, which was recently commissioned by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Badeh is equipped with world class facilities for effective learning.

    The company also had a training partnership with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

  • NAHCO spends $70m on equipment, infrastructure

    NAHCO spends $70m on equipment, infrastructure

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) PLc said yesterday that it has invested over $70 million on equipment, infrastructure and training of its personnel in the last two years.

    The equipment were installed at the Murtala Mugammed Airport, Lagos and other airports were NAHCO carries out its operations .

    The investments, NAHCO Chairman, Mallam Sule Yahaya said, has helped the company to raise the bar in its services.

    He said this was made to reposition the firm as the leading provider of ground handling services in Africa.

    Speaking in an interview after the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal  Alex Badeh inaugurated the training and learning centre at the airport, he said NAHCO will continue to collaborate with the Air Force on safety.

    He spoke of plans  by the firm to strengthen the partnership with the Air Force, which he said, led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

    Yahaya said NAHCO will consolidate on its partnership with stakeholders to bring about facilitation of cargo and passenger movement.

    He explained that the recent closure of its import warehouse at the Lagos airport by Nigeria Customs  Service has offered a window for the firm to clean up its operations.

    He described the partnership as fruitful as the new regime in the terminal now removed tardiness in the processing, documentation, and release of cargo.

    He said NAHCO will continue to strengthen its collaboration with other players to raise the level of safety and security around the airport.

    Air Marshal Badeh said the Air Force is excited over its partnership with NAHCO, that will bring about the training of its personnel, who he said, constitutes a strong link in the aviation chain.

    He said the Air Force will strengthen its operations around airports to ensure that dangerous goods and weapons are not brought into the country undeclared.

    Such oversight duties, he said, has become necessary because of recent threats to national security.

    He spoke of plans to secure the airports, assuring that anytime stakeholders need the assistance of the Air Force, the personnel on ground would respond appropriately.

    Badeh urged domestic airlines to use the aircraft maintenance hangar of the Force at the airport for the repairs of their airplanes, assuring that it has adequate capacity to undertake such tasks.

    He said it is cheaper and convenient to repair aircraft at home rather than sending them abroad to enrich other countries.

  • New port order will enhance cargo clearance—NAHCO

    New port order will enhance cargo clearance—NAHCO

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has described the new port order packaged in the memorandum of understanding by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, Ikeja, Lagos, as one of the steps to enhance cargo handling processes.

    The cargo and passenger handling firm said it is fully committed to the full implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed by all stakeholders on cargo operations at the airport.

    Speaking in an interview, Head of Corporate Communications, NAHCO, Mr Adesanya Onayoade said the firm is in support of measures put in place by the Nigeria Customs Service geared towards review of clearance process for cargo as well as forestall any unwholesome act by unauthorised persons at the cargo terminal.

    He said: “The management of NAHCO is fully committed to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all the stakeholders on cargo operations at the airport.

  • Customs re- opens NAHCO, SAHCOL warehouses

    Customs re- opens NAHCO, SAHCOL warehouses

    Nine days after its closure for improper documentation of cargo, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of Nigeria Customs Service yesterday opened the warehouses belonging to Nigeria Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO) Plc and Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited ( SAHCOL).

    The reopening came on the heels of series of meetings held between the firms, clearing agents , airlines and other stakeholders.

    Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of Customs at the airport , Mrs Thelma Williams, said the warehouses were reopened after the affected parties agreed to the terms of reference for all operations at the cargo terminal

    Mrs. Williams explained that the firms and other stakeholders have endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding and undertaken to comply with the new standard operations procedure for cargo documentation and release.

    Head of Corporate Communications , SAHCOL, Basil Agboarumi , said all differences have been reconciled, and business has resumed again at the import section of the warehouse. The outcome of this will provide better services to all importers and exporters using the SAHCOL gateway, he said.

    Also the NAHCO’s spokesman, Mr Adesanya Onayoade, also confirmed the reopening of its warehouse for business.

  • Firms, agents, others count losses of warehouse closure

    Firms, agents, others count losses of warehouse closure

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited ( SAHCOL), licensed cargo agents and freight forwarders, yesterday continue to count their losses as the closure of the bonded warehouse closed by Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos entered the sixth.

    Attempts to resolve the impasse over what Customs officials described as improper documentation and inability to explain the exit of cargo from the warehouses by the affected companies, failed to yield any results last week after series of meetings.

    A source hinted that operators involved in the clearance of imported cargo and courier in the shut warehouses, may have lost millions of naira as revenue over the six days of no operations.

    It was not clear as at presstime when the warehouses would be opened, as officials of customs , NAHCO and SAHCOL, as well as the affected clearing agents associations and other stakeholders, were still meeting yesterday.

    Security is still tight around the closed warehouses as officers of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service were stationed around the airport to maintain peace.

    Speaking on the closure, spokesman of NAHCO , Adesanya Onayoade, said discussions are on-going by all stakeholders with a view to resolving the matter, adding that the meeting with Customs officials and other players have reached an advanced stage on how to improve cargo processing for the benefit of all players.

    He said stakeholders have agreed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding that would drive operations of warehouses at the airport.

    The NAHCO spokesman said it is difficult to ascertain how much the firm could have lost to the closure of the warehouse.

    Scores of agents yesterday at the cargo terminal called on the affected parties to resolve the impasse to save their business from collapse.