Reactions have continued to trail the low safety threshold handling rate being charged by the ground handling companies with Chief Executive Officers of the two major handling companies, the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), Mr Basil Agboarumi, and his counterpart at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO Aviance), Mrs Tokunbo Fagbemi calling for an urgent review of the present charges.
According to the latest information gathered, ground handlers are suffering because of the poor handling charges which they said if not reviewed may start affecting their services as they presently need lifeline to remain in business amidst the devastating pandemic that is ravaging all businesses.
The key players are hinging their position on the fact for the companies to make profit, they must first of all have the machineries needed to do the job which may not be achieved because of the present poor charges.
Joining in the call for the review of the poor rates, the Group Managing Director of NAHCO, Mrs Tokunbo Fagbemi described the poor rates as one of the major challenges which she said was like a quarter of what was being charged across West Africa.
âThe challenge that we have is that over the last few years, our rates have been static and some have even gone down, meanwhile foreign exchange and cost of living index have risen astronomically. Also, the changes in foreign exchange from 1986 till date, you canât compare it. Today, a dollar is over N500; the economics indices are indicators of what the situation is. We have been doing our best, showing that safety and security of our customer is not compromised and we want to continue to be able to do that to any airline that we serve.
âThe rate we are talking about is the benchmark below which you can not offer these services safely. Even, in deregulated economies around the world, we have benchmarks that are given; some may not be announced while the others are announced. What we are saying is that you can charge whatever you want, but you must not go below a framework that will harm the industry, harm the business and cause safety issues.â
Fagbemi however called for a framework that will not harm the sector, the business as well as safety issues.
Wondering how the poor charging rates had been allowed to continue for so long, the Managing Director of SAHCOL, Mr Basil Agboarumi, the need to review the present charges had been long overdue in view of the drastic changes that had taken place since the two major handling companies that used to be government entities were privatized.
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