SAHCOL Boss Wants Expansion Of Cargo Apron At MMIA

For a rapid movement of
cargo from the ramp and to avoid congestion any time, more than one aircraft-arrives at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Managing Director of Sky Way Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr Olu Owolabi and a stakeholder, President of Association of Foreign Airline Representatives in Nigeria (AFRAN), Mr Kingsley Nwokoma, have asked the federal government  to complete the expansion work on the second half of the apron.
Mr Owolabi told newsmen that if government does not expand the apron, there would be much melee anytime more than two aircraft want to affload at the tarmac especially after the new terminal is complete.
Mr Nwokoma who is also involved in cargo operations at the airport said federal government as a matter of urgency needs to commence the expansion of the cargo apron of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to decongest to allow the landing of more wide bodied aircraft.
He frowned at the way the cargo apron was abandoned by a contractor that was awarded the contract for its expansion without prosecution.
“We should have government that will make people work, you can’t just collect money and disappear especially for a facility that will benefit the whole country; its something that government must look into” he said.
Mr Nwokoma explained that it was becoming worrisome and difficult for wide bodied planes to come to the airport as a result of the inability of the government to construct a bigger apron for the airport. He urged the government to address the situation to avoid embarrassment from the international community adding that all eyes were focused on Nigeira.
“We have an airline that brings in goods and is made to pack at international. The apron is so small and we have had issues and incidents involving planes. The cargo apron is an eye sore, that apron has been there since the airport was built. We have been crying, calling for this expansion because safety is the keye here, he said.
On the need for sanity at the NAHCO shed, Mr Nwokoma called for the introduction of access control of people into the cargo area especially with the security challenges that the country was passing through .
The AFRAN president Stressed the need for the installation of close circuit televisions within and around the airport to monitor every on-going activity in the area.