NAHCo board approves N4bn for equipment upgrade, promises improved service

Abiola Seun The management of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCo), has approved N4billion for upgrade of the company’s ground handling equipment.This was as the company assured its customers of improved service delivery despite numerous challenges faced by the operators in the aviation sector.Speaking at the dinner organised for clients and partners, which cuts across clearing agents, airline operators, Nigeria police, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NAHCo chairman, Dr Seinde Fadeni, observed that some of the ground support equipment are ageing, and the current company’s board had approved N4 billion for equipment upgrade.In a press statement by the head, Corporate Communications, NAHCo, Sedan Akinrinmade, and a copy made available to newsmen, the company’s chairman agreed that there are numerous challenges limiting the growth of handling business in Nigeria.He, however, assured that NAHCo would continue to deliver quality and excellent services to its clients, saying support from the customers as major reasons the company has grown over the years despite the myriads of challenges.He said, “we are trying as much as possible to aggressively improve on the equipment, which we have now. Some of our equipment are as old as 20 years and above. We are working hard to ensure that we serve our clients better.

“However, we know that we can’t have it all 100 percent, but we are consistently working to ensure we satisfy our customers. Today is the night of our customers. We know they are kings, and we must treat them as such.”The Chairman assured clients and stakeholders that some of the challenges being faced by the airlines and clearing agents were beyond the company, but assured that NAHCO would collaborate with FAAN and other major stakeholders to address the bottlenecks in the sub-sector.Speaking earlier, the Group Managing Director, NAHCo, Indranil Gupta, said the handling company had performed the foundation stone laying of its export processing centre at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.Gupta said construction work would soon start on the structure, which is being conceptualised as a two- storey building, adding that all the facilities at the centre would be automated for seamless transaction.He said, “on the monument gate, we understand your challenge as clearing agents, but we must also listen to the concerns of FAAN, too.

” I am sure FAAN doesn’t want to make life difficult for its clients. They know why they locked up the gate, but I can assure you that we will discuss with them soon.”Earlier, some of the clients commended NAHCO for making them top priority and assured the company that they would continue to work with the company.