The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SAHCOL

  • How to remain the best, by SAHCOL chief

    How to remain the best, by SAHCOL chief

    Workers of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) have been asked to be more dedicated to meet customers’ expectation.

    SAHCOL Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi gave the advice at a retreat tagged: “Exceeding customers’ expectations in 2014 and beyond”, held for workers in Ijebu Odo, Ogun State.

    While thanking the workers for their efforts since the take-over of SAHCOL by Sifax Group, he said through the firmhas continued to take steady steps in meeting its vision.

    Afolabi said though SAHCOL has not met its target, through commitment, loyalty and dedication of staff to duty, the firm would get there.

    He explained that the Sifax Group invested in SAHCOL to reverse the decline in service delivery sector, and build a firm that compete in ground handling, not just in Nigeria, but globally, and as well provide a platform through which employees would develop expertise and achieve their various ambitions.

    He said in the last four years, huge investments have been made in the critical ground equipment division running into billions of naira, while plans are on to take delivery of more modern equipment in the months ahead.

    “The ultra-modern cargo warehouse, which will become operational in the second quarter of the year, has the state-of-the-art handling equipment, and it is the first of its kind in West Africa,”

    Afolabi urged the workers to be customer focused, saying they are the reason the business is in existence.

    “As service providers, customers are the only reason we are in business today, and for us to remain in business tomorrow, our collective efforts must be directed at delivering quality service that will exceed their expectations,” he said.

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • SAHCOL invests N20b on equipment

    The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) invested over N20 billion on passenger and aircraft handling equipment between 2009 and last month.

    Its Managing Director, Mr Oluropo Owolabi, said while unveiling some operational equipment acquired by the firm that the investment was part of the firm’s plans to expand its operations and enhance service delivery.

    Owolabi said in the next few months, SAHCOL would invest more money in the building of cargo warehouses in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

    He said the investment was part of the strategy to become the leading cargo and passenger handling operations in Africa.

    The new operational equipment would position the firm strategically to compete in the industry, where airlines are constantly asking for improvement in service delivery.

    Owolabi said the decision to acquire more operational equipment was to eliminate delays hitherto caused by inadequate equipment, affirming that the enhanced equipment operators will fast-track service delivery in the sector.

    He listed some of the equipment to include commanders’ 15i, 30i, 40i loader and 45i, which according to him, is ultimate in ground handling company.The 15i loader is a single operated vehicle capable of lifting and carrying very high capacity cargo, adding that it is hydraulically powered and electronically controlled.The 15i, he said, is capable of handling B757, 767,777,787, A340 and any lower deck, passenger and cargo aircraft.

    The 30i and 40i loaders, he said, are not only hydraulically powered and electronically controlled, but that they also have the capacity of handling A380, 747 and all wide body aircraft and heavy cargo and container.

    The vehicle, he said is equipped with stabilisers, side guides, emergency pumps for ease and safe handling of heavy cargo loads in aircraft.

    He said :” We have spent more than twenty billion Naira on these equipment. In terms of expansion , we are working hard on the completion of our warehouse in Lagos and from there we will move to build more warehouses in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano.

  • SAHCOL to establish training school

    Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) said it would establish a training school for cargo and passengers’handlers.

    SAHCOL’s Managing Director, Mr Olu Owolabi, spoke during the presentation of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Safety Audit for Crew Operations (ISAGO) certificate by Miss Adefunke Adeyemi, the Southwest African Area Manager of IATA in Lagos.

    He explained that SAHCOL was working with IATA for the take-off of the school.

    “ There, we will be training our staff, staff members from other airlines on ground handling and passengers’handling and become more relevant within the industry,” he said.

    He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Civl Aviation Athority (NCAA) for giving SAHCOL the approval to establish the proposed school.

    He added that a lot of money is being spent on the project and would be among the best on completion.

    Owolabi also said the management also approved SAHCOL’s proposed corporate headquarters’design.

  • SAHCOL, Medview collaborate

    The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has been picked to provide ground handling services to Medview Airline’s Domestic Operations.

    By this deal, SAHCOL shall be providing Ramp and Passenger Handling Services to Med-view Airline in its flight operations in the country.

    SAHCOL has been partnering Medview in the provision of ground handling services in its Hajj operations.

    Chairman of SAHCOL, Dr.Taiwo Afolabi, at the take-over of SAHCOL from the Federal Government in December 2009, promised to invest in personnel development, state-of-the-art equipment, fleet replacement, and infrastructure.

    Less than three years later, these promises and much more has been fulfilled, which has helped tailored the company to meet the needs and expectations of its growing list of clientele.

    The activities of SAHCOL include passenger handling, ramp handling, cargo handling/warehousing, aviation security, baggage reconciliation, executive lounge, and other related ground handling services, while ensuring that ground handling assignment is carried out in an efficient, speedy and safe manner, by deploying the right tools and expertise.

    SAHCOL also provides ground handling services to Arik Air, the United /Continental Airline, Air France Cargo, Etihad Airways, Egypt Air, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Allied Air, Aero Contractors Airline, Dana Air, Sudan Air, African Open Sky Airlines, among others.

    Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited’s services are tailored towards meeting the needs and expectations of its growing list of clientele, which includes international scheduled and ad-hoc operators, and domestic airlines operating in/out of airports in Abuja, Lagos, Minna, Kaduna, Jos, Yola, Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Owerri, Ilorin, Akure, Benin, Ibadan and Uyo.

  • SAHCOL for Hajj operation

    The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has received approval to provide ground handling services for outbound and inbound operations of the 2012 Hajj Operations, the spokesman of the company Mr Basil Agboarumi has said.

    By this, SAHCOL is expected to provide ground handling services, covering ramp, passenger and baggage to four airlines for the Hajj Operations. They include Marx Air, Kabo Air, Med View and Meridian Airlines.

    He explained that the services would be provided at the designated airports for the Hajj , namely, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Minna, Yola, Sokoto, Katsina, Ilorin, Gombe and Kaduna.

    Out of the 85, 000 pilgrims that would go through these airports, SAHCOL is expected to provide handling services to 65, 000 pilgrims.

    Meanwhile, SAHCOL has already deployed personnel and equipment to these stations to allow for a hitch-free Hajj.

    “The firm is geared towards ensuring efficient and speedy delivery of aviation ground handling services to its customers, thereby making SAHCOL a reference point where efficiency of a successful flight is born,” SAHCOL said in a statement.

    Since the takeover of SAHCOL by the SIFAX Group in December 2009, SAHCOL has invested in personnel development and state-of-the-art equipment, fleet replacement, and massive infrastructural development, which have helped reposition the company to meet the needs and expectations.