Author: Isah Mukhtar

Export
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Dec. 30, 2018 (NAN) Mr Basil Agboarumi, the Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, says exportation of goods has  increased in Nigeria due to the Federal Government’s favourable policies on doing business.

Agboarumi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that SAHCO was handling more exportation of agricultural produce by Nigerians.

“I think for the first time, we have seen a serious improvement in export business. It is because of the policies put in place by the government.

“Prior to the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, what we had was importation of goods from various countries and exports neglected but today, I can tell you that export is picking up.’’

Agboarumi said that some of the major items being exported by air were yams, palm oil, vegetables, and electronics among others.

“So, there are a lot of items moving from here to all over the world and that has helped to grow the revenue that comes in from exports.

“Before now, as a ground handling company, we were only making money from imports but today, exportation is picking up.’’

According to him, the company has increased the storage capacity of its warehouse in order to preserve both imported and exported items.

“The major problem with perishable goods is storage and we have improved our capacity to do that.

“We have different cold rooms operating non-stop to preserve these items either when they are coming in or going out of the country.

“I can tell you that today, we have the best warehouse in West Africa.

“If you want a fully automated warehouse, a warehouse where you still see business being done in line with international best practices, then you need to come to SAHCO warehouse,’’ Agboarumi said.

The managing director also noted that auditors overseeing Middle East and Africa came to assess the company and certified its services good.

“We do the same certification with other airports in the world,’’ Agboarumi said.

He, however, noted that aviation ground handling business in Nigeria “is under-priced’’.

“We are spending so much but we are not receiving what is due to us. It takes a man like our Chairman with a large heart to succeed in this business.

“ Some other people would have been discouraged because maintenance and running costs are huge. We have three generators and we use diesel.

“We have cold rooms, freezers that must be kept on and we are not sure of 24-hour power supply.

“We get trucks of diesel into fuel dump regularly,’’ Agboarumi said.

He pointed out that the company had a standard which the staff was conscious of, saying that the company could not go below the standard.

The managing director said that the company regularly embarked on  of trainings, from the managing director level to the cleaner in order to ensure effective service delivery.

“From time to time, we see ourselves going back to the classrooms. Training is the heartbeat of this company.’’ (NAN)
ASO/ENN/EEE
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ese E. Ekama

Why we removed ADC’s “illegal” billboards — OGSAA

By Femi Ige

Abeokuta, Dec. 30, 2018 (NAN) Ogun Signage and Advertisements Agency (OGSAA) has advised all political parties and their candidates in the state to obtain necessary permits and approvals before deploying billboards and other political signs.

Akin Bandele, OGSAA General Manager, said such permits would enable the Agency to duly enlist the co-operation of law enforcement agents in securing these valuable media assets.

The Agency gave the advice following allegations that OGSAA had been hostile to some political parties by removing their campaign billboards.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Ogun, Gboyega Isiaka, had on Friday accused OGSAA officials of removing his campaign signages.

The OGSAA boss, however, said in a statement that the ADC signages were removed because they were “being deployed illegally across the state” without obtaining necessary permits from the regulatory agency.

“We are constrained to formally respond to this grievous allegation and set the records straight to protect the reputation of OGSAA as an organisation guided by professionalism and best practices in its operations.

“On Dec. 1, 2018, OGSAA Monitoring and Enforcement team on routine duty came across illegal “A” Boards mounted and placed across Abeokuta by ADC’s Gboyega Isiaka Campaign Organization.

“Expectedly, OGSAA enforcement team swiftly moved into action and removed the “A” Boards.

“During the course of this lawful activity, ADC members attacked OGSAA officials. The leader of OGSAA Enforcement team was seriously rough handled, beaten and he sustained serious injuries.

“All these happened in the presence of Mr Gboyega Nasir Isiaka. The incident was duly reported at the Zone 2 Mobile Police Command, who cautioned and advised ADC members to follow due process and subsequently removed the offending illegal “A” Boards,” Bandele said.

The OGSAA boss said the ADC governorship candidate had not till date applied nor paid for a single “A” frame board currently being deployed illegally across the state.

He assured that OGSAA would continue to enforce the law concerning unapproved billboards and campaign signs, adding that the Agency would continue to carry out its mandate without fear or favour.

NAN reports that OGSAA is established by law as an independent regulatory agency with the sole mandate of enforcement, regulation and control of outdoor advertisements, billboards, signages and displays – be it political or commercial – in Ogun. (NAN)

IGE/WOJ

Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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Expansion
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Dec. 28, 2018 (NAN) The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), is planning to expand its ground handling services to other countries in the West African sub-region in 2019.

The Managing Director of SAHCO, Mr Basil Agboarumi, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

Agboarumi said the company was mapping out strategies toward achieving its vision to become the leading provider of passenger, ramp and cargo handling services in West Africa.

“We are business people and every business person has a mindset to grow and I can assure you that we are looking at some of those areas that we can expand to.

“In doing that, we are going to look at our vision statement to be the leading provider of ground handling services in the West African sub-region.

“West Africa is in our radar and we are looking at it and I can tell you that with God helping us, as we go into the new year, those are some of the drives we are actually looking at,’’ he said.

The managing director noted that SAHCO had grown as a company since its privatisation in 2009 when it was handed over to the SIFAX Group.

Agboarumi said: “As at 2009, we had less than 20 per cent of the market share but today we have far exceeded 40 per cent of the market share.

“SAHCO was worth N5. 25 billion when it was acquired in 2009. The company has grown under the leadership of our Chairman, Dr Taiwo Afolabi and is now worth about N16 billion.

“The government sees this place (SAHCO) as a test case for the story of privatisation in the world and we sat down with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

“SAHCO is a testament that privatisation can work in Nigeria. Recently, BPE officials came here and they were very impressed with what the company has become.

“Since the privatisation, all major airlines that have come into Nigeria chose to do business with us.

“Some airlines have left our competitors to come to us because they recognise our ability to deliver safe, speedy and excellent services.”

He noted that the ongoing sale of SAHCO’s 406,074,000 shares was based on the terms of the executed Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SSPA) in respect of the privatisation which mandated its shareholders to divest 49 per cent equity stake in the company to the Public.

According to him, the agreement also says SAHCOL must go to the stock market after a period of time.

Agboarumi, therefore, urged Nigerians and SAHCO’s clients to invest in the company by buying its ongoing shares in the market.

He said: “Why do you need to buy SAHCO’s shares? You need to buy our shares because since 2009 till date, most of the airlines operating in the country want to do business with us.

“The shares we are selling will serve as a form of robust to the company. We have been very consistent with service delivery and performance.’’

The managing director sad that he had received from abroad several telephone calls from intending subscribers of the Initial Public Offering (IPO), making
enquiries on what they could do.

Agboarumi noted that he could not give a verdict on the IPO yet; saying that at the end of the offer, there would be collation to know the extent of subscription.

According to him, federal character is also guiding the IPO to ensure that a local government does not get more than the other.

“The only assurance we can give you is that we will continue to discharge our jobs professionally and work assiduously to improve on the existing performance,’’ he said.

NAN reports that SAHCO Plc, which is a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, is an aviation ground handling company that offers services in passenger handling, ramp handling, cargo handling and warehousing.

It also offers services on aviation security, baggage reconciliation, crew bus and executive lounge services and other related ground handling services.

The company was handed over to the core-investor (SIFAX Group) on Dec. 23, 2009, after being carved out of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Ltd. (NAN)
ASO/ENN/AJA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Adeleye Ajayi

Mr Basil Agboarumi, Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO)

Equipment
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Dec. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) says the manufacturing of some major equipment by its team of engineers has helped to reduce the company’s cost of operations.

Mr Basil Agboarumi, Managing Director, SAHCO Plc, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

He explained that the company’s engineers had recently manufactured a towable bowser to fuel the company’s ground support equipment at the airports.

Agboarumi said following its success, the team was already working on the construction of another bowser and also building 10 baggage carts to be used for conveying baggage from aircraft.

He noted that the fuel bowser was the first in the history of aviation ground handling services in Nigeria to be created from scratch from locally-sourced materials.

“The production of the equipment is aimed at achieving higher efficiency of safe and fast service delivery; which is what SAHCOL stands for.

“The 3,000-litre capacity equipment can be operated both manually, with pump and also with battery. The equipment which is only towable has all the features of an imported motorised fuel bowser with modifications to fit the Nigerian terrain.

“The bowser is designed to be both rugged and comfortable for use by the handlers to dispense rapid fuelling in a safe and spillage-free manner,’’ the managing director said.

Agboarumi said before now, the imported fuel bowser, amongst other ground support equipment, was purchased from manufacturers in Europe and other western countries at an equivalent cost of N65 million, excluding the cost of clearance.

He said: “This production has helped to overcome the problem of waiting incessantly for ground support equipment to be shipped to Nigeria.

“It has also reduced waiting time for clearance by the authorities at the ports before being brought to the workshop for use.

“Another reason is that the construction of this bowser has saved the company the cost of sourcing for foreign currency to purchase imported equipment.

“The fuel bowser is of great significance for a hitch-free re-fuelling of ground support equipment on the ramp.”

Agboarumi said that SAHCO would continue to deliver quality and improved ground handling services to all its clientele across the nation’s airports through the procurement of more state-of-the-art equipment for operations.

He said that some new ground handling equipment of the company would in the next few weeks arrive the country, saying that this would further improve the quality of its services.

Also speaking, Mr Toyin Oriawo, Acting General Manager, Maintenance and Engineering Department, SAHCO, said the team decided to work on the local manufacturing of the equipment to reduce cost of operations.

According to him, the idea of building the company’s equipment locally came up when it became difficult to import the spare parts for the motorised fuel bowser being used before now and some other equipment.

Oriawo said: “For instance, the fuel bowser we purchased in 2013 from Europe cost N65 million excluding shipping and other costs but we were able to produce ours here with about N13 million.

“Also, a baggage cart cost 4,600 Euros abroad but here we are producing it with about N678, 000. We are working on 10 currently and when you look at this, you know that we are really reducing our operating costs.

According to him, the baggage carts will be ready by January.

To further serve the airlines better, he said that the company recently imported tow bars to ease movement of aircraft.

Oriawo noted that plans were also underway by SAHCO to build towable passengers’ desks.

“So with the right support, Nigerian engineers can do more local manufacturing; not just in aviation but in other fields to curb our dependency on importation of equipment and goods,’’ he said.

To keep the company going, Agboarumi noted that there were three generators each of 500 KVA capacities; to power the equipment being used by the company.

NAN reports that SAHCO Plc., which is a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, is an aviation ground handling company that offers services in passenger handling, ramp handling, cargo handling and warehousing.

It also offers services on aviation security, baggage reconciliation, crew bus and executive lounge services and other related ground handling services.

The company was handed over to the core-investor (SIFAX Group) on Dec. 23, 2009, after being carved out of the liquidated Nigerian Airways Ltd. (NAN)
ASO/ENN/AJA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Adeleye Ajayi

Relief

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Dec. 23, 2018 ( NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) says it has concluded the distribution of relief items to flood victims in four local government areas of Kogi.

NEMA Team Leader in charge of Emergency Operation Centre B Mr Tope Ajayi told newsmen in Lokoja on Sunday, that the beneficiaries were from Ajaokuta , Ofu, Igala-Mela and Idah local government areas.

Ajayi listed the items distributed to include food and non food items, including rice, beans, corns, groundnut oil, millo, milk, sugar, salt, detergents, mattresses, mats, tin tomatoes.

Others, he added were clothes, blankets, roofing sheets among others.

He further disclosed that over 6,000 households in the areas mentioned benefitted, adding that the gesture was a continuation of the agency’s intervention in communities affected by the 2018 floods in the state.

Ajayi said that the assistance was also in line with the desire of the Federal Government to provide succour to flood victims across the country, through the agency.

While handing over the relief items, Ajayi expressed the sympathy of the Managing Director of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, to the victims and advised them to see the disaster as an act of God.

He stated that victims in all the local governments affected by the flood n the state would be reached out to by NEMA.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, commended the Federal Government for aiding the victims.

He said the victims required the support of all to start life afresh.

The commissioner was represented at the occasion by his Personal Assistant, Mr Musa Muhammed.

He said that gesture complemented earlier assistance.rendered to the victims by the state government and other donors. ( NAN)
KKA /DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed

Media
By Edwin Nwachukwu
Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) A U.S. based Group, Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) says the Nigerian press is the first line of defence of democracy as the 2019 general election approaches.
Mr Geoffrey Nzeadibe, the National Chairman, PNF USA, Inc., made the assertion in an open letter to the media and sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

The group advised media practitioners to be more professional in carrying out their responsibilities, particularly during and after the election.

“You are the ears and eyes of the electorate. You are the group positioned to see the bad actors first before many others can see them.
“Nigerian press should say something when you see something that is not right. What good are you to the public if you cannot do your job well?
“Let the electorate know what you have uncovered in the course of doing your job and keep talking about it until something is done to correct it,’’ the group said.
On the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the group advised the body to endeavour to leave no stone unturned towards conducting free, fair and credible election.
“Without mincing words, INEC needs to be deeply committed to democratic election that will contribute to political stability and consolidation of democracy, which will propel the nation to greater economic prosperity.
“The 2019 general election need to be credible and made to meet the goals of election integrity comparable to developed nations.
“It is true that political stability is a prerequisite for economic growth and development and it is also true that no economy flourishes in a state of uncertainty,’’ the US-based foundation said.
The group, however, noted that no nation develops if that nation is unstable.
“We have seen nations destroyed by unacceptable electoral outcomes. Democratic transition through credible election is the best way to ensure certainty that will guarantee and sustain political stability,” he said.
The group also called on all stakeholders to fervently play by the rules.(NAN)
ENN/ABI
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Electorate

By Edwin Nwachukwu

Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) A US-based socio-cultural group, Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA), has urged Nigerian electorate to wake up to their civic duty and vote for credible candidates in the 2019 elections.

In “An Open Letter to the Nigerian Electorate on Your Inherent Obligations,’’ the group advised the electorate against electing people with questionable character into offices.

“Look at it in the light of being the owner of the corporation and you are hiring managers and officers to run the corporation for you.

“You would never hire a known thief to run your business on your behalf.

“If you would not do so for your small business, why do you engage in doing the opposite in the much bigger operation of a nation?

“You own corporate Nigeria and you have the power to hire and fire any and all managers that are not performing well,’’ it said.

The pan Ndigbo group, in the letter signed by Mr Geoffrey Nzeadibe, PNF USA National Chairman, urged Nigerians to elect accountable candidates to manage nation’s resources, adding that there was never a good thief.

“A thief is a thief and is a thief anywhere,’ ’the US-based group said in the open letter.

The group reminded the electorate that their present and future net worth was far more than a bag or rice.

They urged the electorate not to mortgage their future for a bag of rice that may not last more than a month.

“Some of the politicians are equating your life as equal to or less than a bag of rice.

“That is why they come around election time to buy your vote for a bag of rice and turn around and rob you blind when you vote them into office.

“Please, stop that practice and vote into office the person that will perform the duties assigned to that office.

“For you to achieve this is by making yourselves available on the day of election to vote a candidate of your choice.

“Someone you consider credible and fit to manage nation’s resources with sense of accountability,” the group added.

It noted that the most powerful group in any nation was the electorate and they should not relinquish their power to any other person or group for anything.

“Never should the electorate relinquish power to anybody and that is why PNF USA says, wake up.

“The Nigerian electorate have been in a big slumber for too long, dreaming a lot of fantasies and now we believe you have rested enough, and it is time for you to wake up and go into action,’’ it said.

The US-based pan Igbo group urged the electorate to rise up and use their PVCs to install good governance and vote out those who have performed below their expectations.

“If you take election days as holidays and sit back at home, then you are the enemy of yourself and the nation.

“Any Nigerian of voting age, who displays apathy towards electoral process perhaps because he or she thinks votes won’t count, remains part of the clog in the nation’s wheel of progress.

“It is saddening that most people sit at home on election days,’’ the group said. (NAN)
ENN/WOJ
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Wale Ojetimi

Christmas
By Egbogota Clara
Lagos, Dec. 21, 2018 (NAN) Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye, the Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos, (Anglican Communion), has urged Nigerians to pray, ceaselessly, for leaders to enable them overcome the challenges of leadership.

Olumakaiye, in his Christmas message on Friday, in Lagos urged Christians to use the festive season to reconcile with their creator and move closer to God.

The cleric, who expressed optimism in the future of the country, said that the challenges the country was facing would soon end, urged Christians to remain committed, prayerful and focused.

He said:”Jesus Christ was born at the time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land. Purity was forgotten and morality was neglected.

“A Saviour was needed to rescue us from difficult and dangerous situation, even as we also have restlessness, economic woes, wars, unemployment and corruption in our Country today.

“Our country should continue to pray for leaders with this kind of attributes at this season of Christmas and beyond. We cannot afford to have anyone lead us without these attributes.

“Asked Christians, we must do things with the fear of God as we use this time of Christmas to return to God and worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

“We should not be confused because confusion is associated with fear. Let us allow God to lead us. The God that has brought us this far in our dear country, Nigeria is saying, Fear Not.

He also urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and pray for continued peace and unity of the country.

“Consequently, I urge all of us to avoid anything that can result into disaster and calamity and also disorderliness and go all out for peace by imbibing tolerance, forgiveness and forbearance.

“I pray that as we celebrate Christmas, your hearts and homes will be filled with all of the joys the festive season brings. Nothing will be able to destroy your joy.

“He will take us farther than here in peace. God will take care of the election and make everyone bow to His authority.

“We should all go out and vote for candidates of our choice during 2019 general elections.” (NAN)
ECO/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

 Posted in Science & 

Investment
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Dec. 20, 2018 (NAN) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, has commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for supporting the nation’s agricultural value chain development with 500 million dollars.

Mr George Oji, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Lokpobiri gave the assurance when Ms Ndine Gbossa, the Country Representative of IFAD, visited him in his office.

He said that the Federal Government took the partnership with IFAD very seriously because of IFAD’s role in Nigeria.

“The IFAD fund has played critical role in making Nigeria the highest producer of rice and cassava in Africa.

“We take our partnership with IFAD very seriously and we appreciate the investments and the support that we are getting from you.

“Today, Nigeria is rated as the highest producer of rice and cassava in Africa, courtesy of IFAD intervention and the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

“This has helped Nigerians to answer the clarion call of this administration to go back to the farms to produce what we eat and eat what we produce,” he said.

The minister disclosed that Nigeria used to spend a whooping sum of 5 million dollars for the importation of rice every day but that through new policy programmes by the ministry and the intervention of partners like IFAD the figure had drastically reduced.

Lokpobiri expressed regret that Federal Government’s effort to reduce the importation of foreign rice into the country was being frustrated by the activities of the neighbouring country such as Benin Republic through the abuse of the ECOWAS protocol.

“The challenge we have with our neighbours is that because of the extant ECOWAS protocol, people will dump their rice products in their region and re-bag them and bring them into Nigeria.

“The reason is that under the ECOWAS protocol, any goods produced within the sub region can have free access to any market within the region.

“Based on that, those from Thailand would go to Benin Republic with their parboiled rice and then re-bag them as though they were produce in Benin Republic and then smuggled them into Nigeria.’’

He said that this had been denying the people of Benin Republic the opportunity to grow rice and then benefit from the Nigerian market “because of that, Nigeria has engaged the government of Benin Republic up to the presidential level.’’

“The President had to invite the President of Benin Republic to engage him because we are neighbours, let’s see how we can work together and curb this issue of smuggling,’’ he said.

The statement quoted the IFAD Country Respresentative, that the Executive Board of the fund recently approved additional financing for Nigeria in the Value Chain Development programme to the value of 89 million dollars.

“This has brought the total investment in this programme to 228 million dollars, for supporting rice and cassava production.

“This is in addition to another 60 million dollars for supporting the Niger Delta Youth known as the Alive for Niger Delta fund,’’ she said.

She said that Nigeria remained a very important partner of IFAD and had also attracted the highest investment in Africa, noting that, “altogether, we have investment in Nigeria that is worth half a billion dollars.’’

“Nigeria is one of the biggest investment countries for IFAD, so it is a very important country.”

“IFAD has set aside another 100 million dollars for investment in Nigeria for 2019 but is applying caution to know the outcome of the coming election before putting pen on paper for the fund,’’ she said. (NAN)
ROK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf