The Managing Director of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company of Nigeria Limited (SACHOL), Mr Olu Owolabi, said the ground handling business in Nigeria needs zero tariff on equipment from the Federal Government just as the zero tariff presently enjoyed by airline operators on aircraft and spares if the business must continue to grow. In an interview with newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, Owolabi spoke on the challenges before ground handling companies in the country, plans by the company to invest in state of the art equipment and other issues. was there. Excerpts:
As one of the leading ground handling companies in the aviation industry, what would you want the Federal Government to do to enable ground handling companies improve their operations at the airports?
There are lots of ways the Federal Government can come to the aid of ground handling companies in Nigeria. The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), is one of the successes of privatisation that the Federal Government would be proud of and prove to the world that privatisation means progress, employment and development to the country.
A lot of things have been done so far, but one of the things that have been affecting us over the years is the issue of tariff on our equipment that we bring into the country. These are equipment worth several millions of naira and are always stationed on the tarmac.
Why people are running away from ground handling business is because of the heavy money involved in the business. One of our equipment that carries containers and loads for aircraft cost almost $950,000 and on each aircraft, you need about two of such equipment. And when you are handling about three to four aircraft, you know the numbers of such equipment you will require.
If the airlines could be given zero tariff on their equipment and aircraft, such should be extended to the ground handlers, which I have always been emphasising that after the airport, it is the airlines and then the ground handlers, who will welcome them and assist them to make their stay easy and complimentary, ensure that the passengers are comfortable in the country.
The handling companies are being used as a tool by the airlines and once there is any tariff that is being raised by the government on the operations of the airlines, the airlines come cap in hand to the ground handlers and appealed that their charges should be reduced by us. The tariff of ground handling companies in Nigeria now is zero when you compare it to what is happening all over the world. I don't blame them, I blame our sister ground handling companies, who felt that is the way they can go about it whereas, competition should be on what you delivered and should not be on what you can reduce.
The sky is the limit for all competitors. So, the only thing that is different is how you manage it and how you can handle it. I will continue to re-emphasise it that our Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi is a wonderful person who continuously pour money into the system and he is not taking anything back. He has been able to give us the opportunity to grow not only in employment, but also in infrastructure. This ongoing warehouse is going to be one of the best in Africa when it is completed.
At the initial stage, we had some teething problems like the land that was taken away from us by the government, but we believe we are still holding on and we don't believe in going to court, but rather in dialogue. In additional to that, other agencies like the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), and the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS), have been very wonderful to us in making our stay at the airport comfortable and accommodating us even without compromising security because there are lots of constraints and we appreciate this a lot.
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