Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) has carried out a comprehensive fumigation of the cargo area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos as part of the effort to prevent the spread of COVID 19 pandenic.

The ever busy Cargo Terminal is saddled with the responsibility of handling the influx of essential supplies in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus.

A statement signed by the Manger Corporate Communications, SAHCO PLC, Uansohia Adetola Vannessa said that  the ground handling company SAHCO, has also been entrusted with providing aviation ground handling services for some evacuation flights of nationals of other countries.

This, she said was due to the restriction of foreign and domestic airlines movement by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to curtail the spread of the virus.

Additionally, the spokesperson said that the company has been responsible for the ground handling activities of humanitarian cargo flights conveying essential supplies for fighting the propagation of the COVID-19

She added that SAHCO is the only aviation ground handling provider that is present in all the commercially operated airports in Nigeria, is both ISAGO and RA3 certified, hence has the capacity to handle all freights from and to European countries.

She said that the grand handler also owns the best ultra-modern warehouse in West Africa and one of the best in Africa.

She informed that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAHCO responded to the global concern in line with the measures approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigerian Centre For Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Massive campaigns, she stated were organised for all categories of staff in all the locations across Nigeria, informing them of the measures to take to prevent infection in the course of their duty and at home.

Emphasis, She said was equally laid on hand hygiene and the procedures demonstrated, adding that the Aircraft Cleaning staff, the Passenger Agents, the Baggage/Cargo handlers were given detailed briefs and attention.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE, she pointed out was distributed to all staff to prevent infection while all customer facing staff were given nose and mouth masks.

“Temperature readers, hand wash facilities and hand sanitisers were provided in all SAHCO locations for both customer and staff. Bulletins on critical information about the COVID -19 virus had been distributed to staff, notice boards and offices,” she added.

SAHCO as a responsible organization, she disclosed fumigates its facilities frequently but  that in the wake of the outbreak, the company had to fumigate its facilities against the COVID -19.

The essence, she said is to play its role in curtailing the spread of the virus and by also ensuring that all staff, who are involved in providing ground handling activities are properly kitted with the appropriate PPEs and are conversant with procedures to take to prevent infection.

SAHCO is involved in Passenger handling, Baggage Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo handling and warehousing and other aviation ground handling activities.