The Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, (SAHCOL) Mr. Olu Owolabi, has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the issue of multiple taxation imposed by Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on aviation handling companies.
Speaking to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Cargo Complex, lkeja, Lagos, last week, he stressed the need for government’s urgent intervention in the issue.
He added that a presentation has been made to the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who has in turn, passed it to a committee to look into and make appropriate recommendations.
“I’m sure that government will look into it and out ways to assist us. All the multi-million naira equipment we invested and pay duties on are stationed at on the tarmac for our operations and cannot be parked on the street, yet we are still being billed by FAAN is a serious issues effecting us,” he said.
He also solicited government’s assistance on the issue of tariffs, noting that airlines are enjoying zero tariff on aircraft spare parts and the same should be extended to handling companies on the equipment being imported.
He added: “The airlines operate, but not as much as we operate. After the aircraft must have landed, all the supportive operations either on landing or about to take off are being taken care of by the handling companies.”
“We know government meant well for the industry when it said it was embarking on the upgrading of airports and at the same time, it should be supportive when handling companies are buying new equipment to be able to facilitate passengers and airlines needs.”
Owolabi stated that his firm had the best ground handling equipment so far in the country.
“We are however not satisfied yet, because the more we improve and expand on our service delivery, the more we will need to acquire additional equipment to meet up with the demand of our clients.
“The type of equipment we use, are not the type you buy and keep. The more the need arises, the more equipment”, he stressed.
He added: “On the clients that they have many airlines that we handle, I can assure you that those we handle enjoy our services very well.
“We look forward for more customers in 2015. Our customers come first in our in our line of thought before any other thing.
“So far, on the domestic scene we handle almost 80 per cent of the airlines while on the international we have 40 per cent of the business we also need federal government to increase the cargo apron to contain more aircrafts.”
