A Dublin, Scotland based aviation ground handling company, Menzies Aviation is alleged to have began illegal operations at Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA), Lagos, African Travel Business News (ABTN) has learnt.
Yet to be registered Menzies Aviation was noted to have started its operations in the nation’s busiest international airport on Wednesday rendering ground handling company to some airlines including Air Cote d’Ivoire which arrived from Abidjan.
It was also gathered that though Menzies has applied to Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for certification to start operations in Nigeria, but it did not wait for the certification process to be concluded before it went into full scale operation contrary to industry standard practice.
Investigations revealed that the ground handling firm which has its headquarters in Dublin, Scotland is also based in Accra, Ghana.
A security operative at the airport who spoke under the condition of anonymity said that the company used a licence issued by NCAA to an indigenous ground handling company, Precision Aviation Handling Company Ltd (PAHCOL) for the operations. It was also learnt that (PAHCOL) could not start operation for years due to lack of equipment.
Also, it was gathered that Menzies Aviation used ground handling equipment of a domestic airline not licensed to ground handling operations for another airline to commit the alleged crime..
“The handling company rendered handling services to Air Cote d’Ivoire today. They came without an operating license. They borrowed Arik Air’s equipment to commence handling. Meanwhile Arik Air is not a ground handling company. How did their staff get to the ramp?
Another area of security concern raised by the security source in the operation of Menzies aviation was the quality of its staff which no one could explain how they were recruited and had access to the ramp without approval from Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) did not give them apron pass; they used Arik equipment to get to the apron area to commence operations. They are using PACHOL licence and Arik equipment to deceive clients and FAAN.
“The company used PACHOL license, which NCAA said is non-transferable. NCAA actually told them to do the proper thing, that if they want to come into Nigeria, they should register while the agency carries out security checks on them. They know that if they use PACHOL’s name to operate, they will not attract foreign and big airlines. And to win clients, they tell airlines that they are Menzies,” said the source.
The source added that such act was a breach of security which should attract severe sanctions.
“Before any company carries out operations at the airport, it ought to go through security checks. But Menzies has violated this provision by commencing operations without due approval,” he added.
The spokesman for NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye confirmed development in a telephone interview said the agency had commenced investigation into the matter.
The matter has been reported to us. I have been able to confirm that and NCAA is looking at all the angles. 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 operation, “ Adurogboye stated.
