SAHCO grows revenue by 25%, aims West Africa leadership in ground handling

Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC, SAHCO, an aviation ground handling company, involved in Passenger, Ramp, Cargo Handlings and warehousing, has recorded an increase of 24.5 per cent in its revenue from N6,136.412 billion in 2018 to N7,665,990 billion in 2019.

This good news was disclosed at the company’s 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the SAHCO Complex at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.  

A statement signed by Uansohia   Vanessa Adetola , Manager, Corporate Communications and made available to OpenLife stated that the AGM was conducted in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the conduct of Annual General Meeting via proxies as part of the measures to mitigate the negative effect created by the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

During the event, SAHCO PLC declared a dividend of N223,340,700 at 16.5k(Sixteen and a half kobo) per share which is payable less with the appropriate withholding tax at the time of payment.

Speaking during the AGM, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of the company said he is delighted to address a larger pool of shareholders for the first time even if it is virtually. According to him “You will recall that SAHCO became a publicly quoted company after its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in the last quarter of 2018, the listing, a natural progression in our post-privatisation strategic growth plan, is also in furtherance of the vision to becoming the preferred ground handling company in the West African sub-region in terms of revenue, clientele base, quality of service, customer satisfaction, innovation and return on investment.

Afolabi emphasized that when SIFAX Group bought SAHCO, only 7 per cent of the market share was controlled by SAHCO but that has increased to 55 percent over the years for ground handling while in cargo handling SAHCO controls 70 percent of the market share.

In his remarks, Basil Agboarumi, Managing Director-CEO, SAHCO PLC said the Single Africa Air Transport Market initiative contributed to the growth of the Nigeria Aviation industry and Ground Handling sub-sector in 2019. “Essentially, three African Carriers made their entrances into the Nigeria market;TAAG Angola, Cabo Verde Airlines and Air Senegal. However, Air Namibia suspended their flights to Lagos over unresolved diplomatic issues” He said the company is ready to attract new Airlines as we expect new startup airlines before the year ends which are; NG Eagle and Green Africa.

Agboarumi also went on to say that in the year under review, SAHCO recorded an increase of 24.5 per cent in its revenue from N6,136.412 billion in 2018 to N7,665,990 billion in 2019. He emphasized that this remarkable shift was achieved through the resilience of the entire workforce, aggressive marketing strategies that saw to the addition of our clientele list, concerted efforts of cost containment and effective internal control processes.

He stated that the management intended to reposition SAHCO PLC as the best ground handling company in West Africa by acquiring more client airlines using the leverage of being the preferred handling partner of British Airways and other global carriers already in her fold.

The company’s statement added that it is committed to ensuring that Ground Handling assignment is carried out in an efficient, speedy and safe manner, while deploying the right tools.