Page 25 - STAT November 2022 for Magzter

sad. Our environments are unfriendly
to our equipment; we spend so much on
wears and tears. And this equipment can
only be sourced from abroad. We have
to move equipment that is not supposed
to cover long distances to service them
and to operate cargo and ramp handling.
In other countries, before you are done
with immigration, your baggage is already
waiting for you at the carousel. It is not that
we don’t know our job, but it is just that the
environment is not allowing us to operate
the same way we want to operate.
? Recently, the ground handling fees
were increased for Nigerian ground
handlers, how has this affected your
revenue and clientele?
After about 35 years, we finally have
an increase in ground handling fees.
Unfortunately, as we are also talking about
the increase, inflation has come to swallow
up everything. A few years ago, the dollar
constant in life; we can’t be doing the same chain. Cargo in this sense means agro-allied was exchanged for 360 naira, now it costs
thing the same way and expect different products, right now a lot of states have been over 800 naira. You can see that the increase
results. We need to sit together and see why affected by flooding. People cannot farm due that would have impacted greatly positively
our products are rejected and ensure that to the flooding and also due to insecurity. on our profit has been cut short by the
we put a system in place that will ensure Government has to give the right support to increased rate of inflation though it would
compliance and monitor this system. We encourage people to farm. It should create have been worse if the increase wasn’t made.
need to depart from talking to doing. farm cities, where all the unemployed youth
can farm and earn their living, these cities ? Looking forward to expected
? More than 10 airports have been should be equipped with amenities and recovery in Africa in 2023, how do
designated as cargo airports in modern farm equipment. This will create you think Nigeria can attract more
Nigeria; do you think these airports surplus to feed our nation and for export airlines and enhance optimal use of the
have fulfilled this designation and what too. We need to get those airports busy investments of SAHCO in recent years?
can be done to improve their utilisation with industrialisation. It shouldn’t be about First, we must have the right facilities in
as cargo airports? exporting raw materials alone. We can also terms of airports and the right diplomatic
Government understands why those export finished products that have been relationships with other countries. There
designations were done. Cargo airports manufactured in these industries. are countries whose citizens trade with
are for cargo and this speaks to the supply Nigeria and yet their airlines do not fly
? The issue of airport concession has into Nigeria. Also, government needs
been controversial in Nigeria over to support domestic airlines to grow
the years, how would airport concession to compete with foreign airlines. The
work effectively in Nigeria’s big and government should also be committed to
Looking at the airport small airports? setting up a national carrier which will be
a boost to the Nigerian economy.
The purpose of anything is to maximise
in line with our how we can make use of anything. Looking
population in Nigeria, at the airport in line with our population ? What is your plan for regional
expansion as the Single African Air
you will see that we in Nigeria, you will see that we have not Transport Market (SAATM) and the
maximized what we have. Concession is
have not maximized good and it will help us maximise all the African Continental Free Trade Area
what we have. advantage that we have as a country. (AfCFTA) gather speed?
It is part of our plans. We are looking for
Concession is good and ? How would you describe the cargo opportunities in African countries. We are
it will help us maximise area and facilities at the airports you big and have the capacity and experience.
all the advantage that operate in, given the need to expand cargo We are resident in 22 airports in Nigeria.
and ground handling activities in Nigeria?
This can be translated to being resident in
we have as a country. When you travel out of the country 22 nations. It will be an icing on our cake to
and you see how the amenities help to take our brand to other countries in Africa.
BASIL AGBOARUMI
SAHCO operate ground handling, you will be We are open to such opportunities.
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 LUA 23