…Handles Air Cote d’Ivoire
An unregistered and un-licenced ground handling company, Menzies Aviation today carried out ground handling business at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos without approval.
Checks revealed that the ground handling company was still going through certification procedures with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), when it carried out the alleged illegal ground handling business at the airport today without the required approval from NCAA.
A highly dependable source in NCAA, who spoke to AbelNews a on condition of anonymity disclosed that the ground handling agent had earlier in the day allegedly handled Air Cote d’Ivoire at Lagos Airport, before departing for Abidjan, the Cote d’Ivoire capital.
Further checks by the online platform also showed that the ground handling firm has its headquarters in Dublin, Scotland, while it has its Africa office is in Accra, Ghana.
Reacting, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed that the ground handling company carried out operations at the airport today and that the regulatory body has commenced investigation into the matter.
According to him, “The matter has been reported to us. I have been able to confirm that and NCAA is looking at all angles on the matter. We will look at the aspect of registration. Do they have the appropriate clearance to do what they did? We know they applied to NCAA for ground handling business, but what we are looking at is whether they were certified to start operating. We are investigating their operations.”
The source alleged that the unregistered company; Menzies Aviation used the licence of Precision Aviation Handling Company Ltd (PAHCOL), which was issued certification by NCAA few years ago, but could not commence operations due to lack of equipment.
The source also alleged that Menzies Aviation also used the ground handling equipment of Arik Air to carry out ground handling operations on the West African carrier.
Arik Air, AbelNews learnt is not licensed by NCAA carry out ground handling business on another airline but has the right to handle some of its operations.
“The handling company came in without an operating license and they rendered handling services to Air Cote d’Ivoire today. It indicates that our airports are porous to the extent that an unregistered ground handling company will operate in our airport. They borrowed Arik Air equipment to commence handling meanwhile Arik Air is not a ground handling company. How did their staff get to the ramp? The source asked.
The source continued, “The company used PACHOL license, which NCAA has already told them that it is not transferable. NCAA actually told them to do the proper thing that if they want to come into Nigeria, they should go and register while the agency carries out security checks on them. They know that if they use PACHOL name to operate, the company cannot attract foreign and big airlines. So, they claimed to be Menzies to clients in order to attract airlines.The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) did not give them apron pass, they now went to use Arik equipment to get to the apron area to commence operations. They are using PACHOL licence and Arik equipment to deceive clients and FAAN.”
A security source, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that such act was a breach of security standards and should attract severe sanctions from the regulatory agency.
The source stated that before any company could carry out operations at the airport, it would go through security checks, which he said the company had violated by commencing operations without getting approval from the appropriate quarters.
Attempt to get the Public Relations and Communication Manager, Arik Air, Mr Adebanji Ola to state Arik Air side of the story proved abortive.
