SAHCOL regrets negligence of stakeholders in planned closure, repair of NAIA

Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has lamented the non-inclusion of key stakeholders in the emerging closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, saying it may run a loss of over N80mn within the period of the repairs.

The group also disclosed that it has already lost about N70mn to controversial seized Rivers State Bells helicopters.

In an interactive session with newsmen, the Managing Director of the ground handling company, Mr. Rizwan Kadri said government got it wrong by not taking everybody along.

According to him, “Government is taking the right step as the repair of the Abuja Airport is long overdue however, they have gone about it wrong as no stakeholder was carried along and that is why no foreign airline is flying into Kaduna.”

“We will lose a lot owing to this closure, if we make N70-N80million at Abuja who will give us that. We will need to shift manpower, equipment to Kaduna and we will continue to pay them salaries if they stay in Abuja although not doing anything for six weeks. We hope it lasts just six weeks but the airlines plan a return after the six weeks.”

“A big chunk of our revenue is from airlines, if airlines pull out it dwindles our revenue,” Kadri said.