Travel/Tourism
H1’20: NAHCO Suffers N143.2m Loss on Rising Selling, Admin Costs
By Dipo Olowookere
One of the main aircraft, cargo and passenger handling companies at the nation’s airports, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, suffered a N143.2 million loss in the first half of 2020.
This was against the net profit of N467.3 million the firm declared in the corresponding period of last year.
This loss was mainly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which wrecked the aviation industry worldwide especially in the second quarter of the year.
Business Post observed that NAHCO recorded a loss in the period under review despite receiving a tax credit of N36.8 million.
In the period, it had a loss before tax of N180.0 million versus the profit before tax of N580.0 million in the first six months of 2019, while its earnings per share (EPS) closed at -9 kobo in contrast to 28 kobo in H1’19.
A look at the top line of the financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2020, showed that the revenue generated declined to N3.6 billion from N4.8 billion due to a decline in the passenger/aircraft handling to N1.4 billion from N2.6 billion and reduction in the leasing to N78.9 million from N123.8 million.
However, there was an improvement in the revenue generated from cargo handling to N2.0 billion from N1.9 billion.
According to the results, the operating costs were pruned to N2.7 billion from N3.2 billion majorly from payroll costs, concession, diesel, electricity and spares as well as licence renewal and at the close of business on June 30, 2020, the company’s gross profit went down to N931.9 million from N1.6 billion.
With an almost flat other income of N105.9 million and higher selling and administrative expenses of N1.3 billion versus N1.1 billion in H1 2019, NAHCO was left with a loss from operations of N282.8 million in contrast to a profit of N591.7 million a year earlier.
The increase in the selling and administrative costs was caused by the higher directors’ remuneration, laundry & cleaning, repair & maintenance, board expenses, entertainment, medical costs, audit fee, depreciation/amortization and others.
Furthermore, the company said it grew its finance income to N146.7 million from N86.5 million, while the finance costs dropped to N43.8 million from N73.6 million.
On its balance sheet, the total assets reduced to N14.6 billion from N14.7 billion in FY 2019, while the total liabilities were flat year-to-date at N8.1 billion.
In the period under review, the loans and borrowings reduced year-to-date to N229.7 million from N440.1 million, while the retained earnings dropped to N3.9 billion from N4.0 billion in FY’19.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
