The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) has said it is establishing itself at the forefront of facilitating the ongoing airlift of thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and has also assured investors and stakeholders that it would continue to operate at full swing to bring value to shareholders funds.
According to the company, as part of the current operation which started off in the country at the weekend, it is estimated that NAHCO would handle a minimum of 99 outbound and 105 inbound flights from ten airports across the country.
The Head of Corporate Services of the Company, Mr. Ahmed Bashir Gulma, pointed out in a statement that every year at this season, NAHCO had always put its services at the behest of muslim devotees performing their religious obligation by assisting them in ensuring a hassle – free handling to the holy land.
According to Gulma, “We collaborate with the airlines, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Federal Government in ensuring that muslim faithfuls on pilgrimage get excellent passenger handling on their way to and from the holy land.”
The airports on the schedule of NAHCO include Abuja, Sokoto, Katsina, Ilorin and Bauchi. Others are Gombe, Maiduguri, Yola, Minna and Kaduna.
The promise to make this year’s passenger handling service for Hajj exceptional comes as the Company’s management assured investors, regulators and other stakeholders that it was doing all within its power to resolve the issue regarding the recent visit of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to its offices.
The Company said in a published statement, “As a Publicly Quoted Company, NAHCO is guided by its Apex Regulator, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the listing rules. We are also aware of our shareholder rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extant rules and the mutual investment protection treaty covering European strategic investors on our Board. As such, this information update has become necessary.”
It further pointed out that as a regulated and listed business entity with strong international Corporate Governance credentials, NAHCO believes that SEC and NSE should be aware of any petition and are in the best position to provide guidance, proper feedback and/or even sanctions regarding any alleged infractions by a regulated entity.
While declaring that it still awaits details from the investigating authorities as is the practice worldwide so as to ensure the protection of both local and international investors’ interests, NAHCO asserts its envious CV as a fully privatized Company, with one of the most successful privatization track records for eleven years with zero Government interests.
NAHCO’s Management further assures that the event of the past weeks had been properly managed as to have little or minimal impact on operations and business continuity.
NAHCO AVIANCE therefore reassures its numerous customers, shareholders and its European Union strategic investors that Company operations are unhindered under the current situation.
While asking for the understanding of all stakeholders, the Company further announced that the Managing Director/CEO, who was on a short vacation had since returned to the country and is back at the helm to take full charge of affairs at the Company.
