Travel/Tourism
New Investors Acquire 16.8% Stake in NAHCO
By Dipo Olowookere
There is a possibility of seeing a new change in the shareholding structure of a notable ground handling company in the country, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc.
This is because investors last week, concluded the transfer of about 16.75 percent equity stakes in the firm on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in an off-market deal.
As off-market, negotiated cross deals, it means that the deals were not subjected to the dynamics of price discovery for the particular period. Off-market trade implied that the deal was sealed outside the floor of the NSE.
According to The Nation, three deals were struck to complete major transfers that started with a cross deal on Thursday, bringing total transactions through the negotiated window of the local exchange to 271.848 million shares valued at N1.787 billion in four deals.
All the deals were cross deals and were consummated through the negotiated window of the NSE.
On Friday, a total of 119.92 million shares valued at N875.42 million were swapped at N7.30 per share.
Also, a total of 5.62 million shares valued at N33.73 million were also crossed at N6 while another 22.69 million shares worth N136.134 million were exchanged in a deal at N6 per share.
A deal had been struck for 123.64 million shares valued at N741.83 million at N6 per share on Thursday.
The negotiated cross deal platform of the Exchange is a special-purpose trading platform that is meant for voluminous transaction. By the cross deal, it implies that the buyer and the seller had been prearranged and the transfer at the stock market was a mere perfection of the agreement between the two. The negotiated cross deal allows the parties to the deal to close the deal at reduced cost.
Interim report and accounts of NAHCO for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 had indicated that the company started the 2018 business year on a strong footing. Turnover rose to N2.188 billion in first quarter 2018 as against N1.786 billion in the corresponding period of 2017.
Finance income improved from N30.916 million to N64.495 million while the company was able to reduce finance cost to N44.536 million as against N55.715 million in first quarter 2017.
With these, profit before tax jumped to N117.405 million in first quarter 2018 compared with N1.026 million in first quarter 2017 while profit after tax leapt from N1.026 million in first quarter 2017 to N97.566 million in first quarter 2018.
Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of NAHCO for the year ended December 31, 2017 had shown improved margins, despite a lull in the top-line.
Turnover stood at N7.926 billion in 2017 compared with N7.956 billion in 2016. Finance cost reduced from N545 million in 2016 to N213 million in 2017.
Profit after tax increased by 33.6 per cent to N776 million in 2017 as against N581 million in 2016. Earnings per share improved from 36 kobo to 48 kobo.
The first quarter of the year results were the first full-quarter results produced by Mr Idris Yakubu, who took over as the Managing Director of the company last November.
The company had its dividend payout by 13.6 percent to N406 million. Shareholders received a dividend per share of 25 kobo for the 2017 business year as against 22 kobo paid for the previous year.
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.
