Business
SAHCOL Acquires N20bn Ground Handling Equipment
The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd. (SAHCOL), said in Lagos that it spent N20 billion to acquire ground handling equipment from 2009 to date.
The Managing Director of SAHCOL, Mr Oluropo Owolabi, disclosed this to newsmen during a facility tour of the three newly-acquired equipment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said the equipment Commander 40i, Commander 30i and Commander 15i container pallets, were the first set of loaders to be imported by the company.
“Both Commanders 40i and 30i are suitable for handling A380, Boeing 747 and all-wide body aircraft and heavy cargo/containers.
“Commander 15i is suitable for handling Boeings 757, 767, 777, 787, A340 and any lower deck, passenger and cargo planes,” Owolabi said.
He said that the company would take delivery of another batch of equipment in May.
Owolabi urged the Federal Government to invest in cargo/passengers section of the industry, to ensure security of lives and property.
“Foreign and domestic airlines operating in the country have been experiencing some relief following the ongoing transformation in the industry.’’
He, however, appealed to the government to put spare parts of ground handling equipment on the duty exemption list.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.