The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), is planning to expand its ground handling services to other countries in the West African sub-region in 2019.
The Managing Director of SAHCO, Mr Basil Agboarumi, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.
Agboarumi said the company was mapping out strategies toward achieving its vision to become the leading provider of passenger, ramp and cargo handling services in West Africa.
“We are business people and every business person has a mindset to grow and I can assure you that we are looking at some of those areas that we can expand to.
“In doing that, we are going to look at our vision statement to be the leading provider of ground handling services in the West African sub-region.
“West Africa is in our radar and we are looking at it and I can tell you that with God helping us, as we go into the new year, those are some of the drives we are actually looking at,’’ he said.
The managing director noted that SAHCO had grown as a company since its privatisation in 2009 when it was handed over to the SIFAX Group.
Agboarumi said: “As at 2009, we had less than 20 per cent of the market share but today we have far exceeded 40 per cent of the market share.
“SAHCO was worth N5. 25 billion when it was acquired in 2009. The company has grown under the leadership of our Chairman, Dr Taiwo Afolabi and is now worth about N16 billion.
“The government sees this place (SAHCO) as a test case for the story of privatisation in the world and we sat down with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
“SAHCO is a testament that privatisation can work in Nigeria. Recently, BPE officials came here and they were very impressed with what the company has become.
“Since the privatisation, all major airlines that have come into Nigeria chose to do business with us.
“Some airlines have left our competitors to come to us because they recognise our ability to deliver safe, speedy and excellent services.”
He noted that the ongoing sale of SAHCO’s 406,074,000 shares was based on the terms of the executed Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SSPA) in respect of the privatisation which mandated its shareholders to divest 49 per cent equity stake in the company to the Public.
According to him, the agreement also says SAHCOL must go to the stock market after a period of time.
Agboarumi, therefore, urged Nigerians and SAHCO’s clients to invest in the company by buying its ongoing shares in the market.
He said: “Why do you need to buy SAHCO’s shares? You need to buy our shares because since 2009 till date, most of the airlines operating in the country want to do business with us.
“The shares we are selling will serve as a form of robust to the company. We have been very consistent with service delivery and performance.’’
The managing director sad that he had received from abroad several telephone calls from intending subscribers of the Initial Public Offering (IPO), making
enquiries on what they could do.
Agboarumi noted that he could not give a verdict on the IPO yet; saying that at the end of the offer, there would be collation to know the extent of subscription.
According to him, federal character is also guiding the IPO to ensure that a local government does not get more than the other.
“The only assurance we can give you is that we will continue to discharge our jobs professionally and work assiduously to improve on the existing performance,’’ he said.
NAN reports that SAHCO Plc, which is a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, is an aviation ground handling company that offers services in passenger handling, ramp handling, cargo handling and warehousing.
It also offers services on aviation security, baggage reconciliation, crew bus and executive lounge services and other related ground handling services.
The company was handed over to the core-investor (SIFAX Group) on Dec. 23, 2009, after being carved out of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Ltd.
‘FG’s policy improving export business in Nigeria’
Mr Basil Agboarumi also said exportation of goods has increased in Nigeria due to the Federal Government’s favourable policies on doing business.
Agboarumi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that SAHCO was handling more exportation of agricultural produce by Nigerians.
“I think for the first time, we have seen a serious improvement in export business. It is because of the policies put in place by the government.
“Prior to the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, what we had was importation of goods from various countries and exports neglected but today, I can tell you that export is picking up.’’
Agboarumi said that some of the major items being exported by air were yams, palm oil, vegetables, and electronics among others.
“So, there are a lot of items moving from here to all over the world and that has helped to grow the revenue that comes in from exports.
“Before now, as a ground handling company, we were only making money from imports but today, exportation is picking up.’’
According to him, the company has increased the storage capacity of its warehouse in order to preserve both imported and exported items.
“The major problem with perishable goods is storage and we have improved our capacity to do that.
“We have different cold rooms operating non-stop to preserve these items either when they are coming in or going out of the country.
“I can tell you that today, we have the best warehouse in West Africa.
“If you want a fully automated warehouse, a warehouse where you still see business being done in line with international best practices, then you need to come to SAHCO warehouse,’’ Agboarumi said.
The managing director also noted that auditors overseeing Middle East and Africa came to assess the company and certified its services good.
“We do the same certification with other airports in the world,’’ Agboarumi said.
He, however, noted that aviation ground handling business in Nigeria “is under-priced’’.
“We are spending so much but we are not receiving what is due to us. It takes a man like our Chairman with a large heart to succeed in this business.
“ Some other people would have been discouraged because maintenance and running costs are huge. We have three generators and we use diesel.
“We have cold rooms, freezers that must be kept on and we are not sure of 24-hour power supply.
“We get trucks of diesel into fuel dump regularly,’’ Agboarumi said.
He pointed out that the company had a standard which the staff was conscious of, saying that the company could not go below the standard.
The managing director said that the company regularly embarked on of trainings, from the managing director level to the cleaner in order to ensure effective service delivery.
“From time to time, we see ourselves going back to the classrooms. Training is the heartbeat of this company.’’
