SAHCO Hosts Strategic Cargo Stakeholders’ Forum to Bolster Industry Collaboration, National Economic Growth
In a move to reinforce its pivotal role in Nigeria’s air cargo and logistics sector, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) PLC has convened a high-level Cargo Stakeholders’ Engagement, bringing together key industry players to drive collaboration, innovation, and support for national economic goals.
The event, held to foster strategic dialogue and fortify partnerships within the cargo logistics value chain, attracted a wide spectrum of stakeholders including clearing agents, exporters, freight forwarders, and logistics professionals.
Discussions centred on repositioning Nigeria’s cargo industry as a major catalyst for economic diversification and sustainable national development.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Managing Director/CEO of SAHCO, Mrs Adenike Aboderin, the Executive Director, Cargo Services, Mrs Boma Ukwunna, expressed gratitude to the company’s partners and stakeholders for their long standing support.
She described the event as both a celebration of the sector’s accomplishments and a critical platform for exchanging insights, addressing challenges, and enhancing collaboration to drive industry-wide efficiency.
In his goodwill message, Honourable Bola Ashiru, Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), lauded SAHCO’s unwavering investment in cutting-edge infrastructure, notably its cold storage facility, which he noted had significantly enhanced the handling of perishable and temperature-sensitive cargo while also generating employment.
Ashiru underscored the importance of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on crude oil revenues and positioning the cargo industry as a key driver of economic growth.
A representative from the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) echoed similar sentiments, urging industry stakeholders to embrace digital transformation.
As port operations move steadily towards full automation, the representative called on participants to equip themselves with basic computer skills and adapt to a technology-driven global logistics landscape.
Mrs Boma Ukwunna, in her keynote remarks, reaffirmed SAHCO’s commitment to continuous investment in modern equipment and infrastructure. She stated that the company operates some of the most technologically advanced Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and warehousing systems in Nigeria – critical tools for efficient, compliant, and world-class cargo operations.
The meeting also addressed critical issues impeding the growth of Nigeria’s export capacity. These included substandard packaging of many exportable Nigerian products, the urgent need to improve packaging to meet international standards, and the limitations posed by inadequate traceability systems, which compromise the ability to track goods from point of origin to final destination.
Participants equally decried the lack of formal training among clearing agents and freight forwarders, highlighting how this has contributed to poor documentation practices, unethical behaviour, and the proliferation of touting at cargo facilities.
A strong case was made for instituting professional certification standards within the industry to promote efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness.
By providing a platform to align sectoral goals, foster regulatory reforms, and shape a cohesive vision for the future, the Cargo Stakeholders’ Meeting underscored SAHCO’s enduring leadership in the cargo handling space.
The company continues to champion innovation, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement as it pushes forward the transformation of Nigeria’s cargo logistics ecosystem.
