SAHCO Strengthens Market Dominance with Robust Financial Growth, Expanded Operations

SAHCO Plc, Nigeria’s leading aviation ground-handling and logistics solutions provider, has unveiled another year of outstanding financial results and strategic expansion, reaffirming its leadership position within the West African aviation services market.

The company’s Managing Director/CEO, Mrs Adenike Aboderin, announced the impressive performance during an extensive media briefing in Lagos, where she also outlined a bold, transformative agenda designed to consolidate SAHCO’s long-term competitiveness.

Against a backdrop of economic volatility characterised by high inflation, foreign exchange uncertainties, and rising operational costs across Nigeria’s aviation landscape, SAHCO delivered what analysts regard as a “stellar and resilient” financial year.

For the nine-month period ending 30 September, SAHCO recorded a 58 per cent surge in revenue, rising from ₦20.1 billion in the corresponding period last year to ₦31.7 billion. Its gross profit climbed sharply from ₦12 billion to ₦18 billion, while profit before tax grew by an impressive 82 per cent, reaching ₦10 billion compared to ₦5.5 billion in 2024. The company’s asset base also expanded by 31 per cent, from ₦40 billion to ₦57.1 billion, demonstrating strengthened financial stability and operational depth.

In her presentation, Mrs Aboderin attributed the company’s exceptional performance to deliberate policy choices guided by SAHCO’s strategic pillars: people, processes, practice, and best practices.

Central to these gains is the company’s comprehensive digitisation programme, which has seen the introduction of advanced technologies across its business operations. These include an internally built flight operations management system, a digital budget-monitoring tool, an electronic billing platform, and a sophisticated e-document management system.

Enhanced cybersecurity frameworks have also been installed to safeguard operations and ensure uninterrupted service delivery. These digital interventions have delivered tangible operational gains, enabling the company to achieve a 27 per cent reduction in costs on a year-on-year basis. With more efficient resource allocation – supported by a dedicated Resource Allocation Department – the company has enhanced accuracy in manpower and equipment deployment, minimised redundancies, and improved service reliability.

Combined, these measures have positioned SAHCO as a technology-forward ground-handling organisation aligned with global operational benchmarks.

SAHCO’s sustainability journey was another focal point of the briefing. The company has emerged as a pioneer in the adoption of electric ground support equipment (GSE) within West Africa, initiating the gradual replacement of diesel-powered systems with environmentally friendly electric alternatives.

It currently maintains the region’s highest number of electric GSE charging points, with plans underway for the installation of solar-powered charging stations to further reduce carbon emissions.

This initiative aligns with the global aviation industry’s decarbonisation targets and supports Nigeria’s commitment to a greener aviation ecosystem.

To meet growing export traffic – boosted by rising agricultural shipments and favourable currency movements – SAHCO has significantly upgraded its cargo-handling capabilities.

The company has expanded export processing zones in its Lagos and Abuja terminals, introduced modern ETT and X-ray security systems that meet international screening requirements, and enhanced cold-chain infrastructure to ensure fresher, faster movement of perishables.

These developments have reduced processing bottlenecks and improved Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global cargo chain.

An important milestone announced by Mrs Aboderin is SAHCO’s expanded aviation training programme. With full regulatory approval secured to run its training school commercially, SAHCO now offers specialised technical courses for airside operators, check-in personnel, cargo handlers, and other frontline ground-handling staff. Construction of a larger, modern training academy has already commenced.

The company is also in talks with three African countries exploring regional training partnerships, a development set to position SAHCO as a key contributor to closing Africa’s projected demand for over 20,000 aviation professionals in the next decade.

Operationally, SAHCO continues to extend its national footprint. The company now delivers ground-handling services at 22 Nigerian airports, and recently added Gateway International Airport (Ogun State) and Bayelsa International Airport to its network.

New airline partnerships include Air Tanzania, Air Algérie, Ethiopian Airlines (Abuja station), United Nigeria Airlines (regional operations), and ValueJet (regional services). Discussions remain ongoing with several African airlines and state governments seeking high-quality handling services.

SAHCO is also diversifying its portfolio. The company has launched SIPA SACOL Aviation, a subsidiary that provides helicopter services specifically for the oil and gas industry. Another new venture, SS Travels, offers comprehensive travel-management services.

Meanwhile, plans are advancing for an e-commerce logistics and fulfilment centre scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of 2026 – a strategic move designed to tap into Africa’s fast-growing digital marketplace.

While technology and infrastructure continue to redefine the organisation, Mrs Aboderin stressed that SAHCO’s workforce remains its greatest competitive advantage.

She confirmed that the company recently approved another round of salary increases and continues to invest in extensive training and staff development programmes, including customer service enhancement, emotional intelligence, safety compliance, and global tracer certifications.

These capacity-building initiatives, she noted, reinforce SAHCO’s philosophy that sustainable success requires both sophisticated systems and highly skilled personnel.

With remarkable financial growth, innovative operational reforms, expanded partnerships, and a clear blueprint for long-term sustainability, SAHCO is reaffirming its position as a dominant force in West Africa’s aviation ground-handling sector.

Mrs Aboderin concluded with optimism that the company’s current trajectory will not only drive exceptional value for clients and shareholders but also strengthen Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem for years to come.