Olu Owolabi, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), has again, decried the tariff being paid on ground handling equipment at Nigeria’s ports, saying this is the greatest challenge in cargo handling business.
While referring to the recently acquired state-of-the-art equipment for the services of South African Airways operations at Abuja airport, he said the company (SAHCOL) paid high tariff on those facilities.
Owolabi called on government to urgently address the situation in order to save the handling companies from going under, even as foreign exchange rate is also affecting cargo business.
The SAHCOL boss, who noted that there has been increase in export in recent time urged, the Standard Organizations of Nigeria (SON) to be proactive by embarking on enlightenment programme for farmers at the grass root on the type of farm produce to be cultivated for export and packaging.
While appealing to all agents at the airports not to frustrate exporters by introducing different levies that will create bottle-necks for them, Owolabi regretted that packaging companies in the country has not been able to live up to expectation in the area of packaging farm produce, urging them to modernize their business to more presentable.
Also as part of ways to improve cargo business, he called on government to create a common warehouse for farmers to evacuate their farm produce.
“There is also need for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to build locations for cargo pick-ups for onward movement to farmers”, he said.
