SAHCO Seeks Duty Waiver For Ground Handling Operators

The managing director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, Mr Basil Agboarumi, has called on the federal government to grant duty waiver on operational equipment for ground handling companies operating in the nation’s airports.

Agboarumi said this during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) in Lagos. He noted that, the waiver would go a long way in ameliorating the harsh economic conditions companies in the aviation industry are facing.

He said, what the company pays to clear its equipment at the port is humongous, adding that, the equipment is only used when an aircraft comes in.

According to him, “we felt that no matter what the government is doing for the airlines, ground handling should be included to benefit from it too. We believe that what should be done is that the same kind of waivers that the airlines are enjoying should also be extended to us to make life easier for us.

“The authorities should encourage us the same way they are doing for airline operators, we are in the same industry and without us, the airlines cannot go into the sky.

“Government gives waiver to the airlines on spare parts and other things, we want them to give the same thing to us for our equipment. With waivers on clearing spare parts, it will do a lot for us.”

While lamenting that the company provides its own infrastructure to stay in business, he explained that, “we have generators that supply our electricity and we have cold room for pharmaceutical products. We have to be on power for 24 hours.”

Agboarumi added that, listing on the Nigerian stock market has helped or tailored the company to do business in line with international best practices.

He said: “our company’s priority is to continue to be disciplined in terms of the way we do our businesses, continue to strive to ensure that we meet the expectations of our shareholders and also ensure a good business relationship with our customers.

“Our expectation is to ensure continuous growth in the bottom line of the business, we will ensure to work in line with best practices in the aviation industry. Get the kind of investment that will ensure we continue to contribute our quota to the nation’s economy.”

SAHCO’s business model is geared towards delivering premium service and this has necessitated massive investment in personnel development, fleet replacement and infrastructure development.