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Airport toll gate handlers target N100m revenue - Edoman - 03-23-2020
Airport toll gate handlers target N100m revenue
March 23, 2020 Wole Shadare
![[Image: 140908-lagos-airport-1824_56f9491ea01bf0...C507&ssl=1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.newtelegraphng.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/140908-lagos-airport-1824_56f9491ea01bf0311e0125a2244f60e2_fit-760w.jpg?fit=760%2C507&ssl=1)
UNREALISTIC
The projection does not look realistic in view of sharp economic decline
Despite the grounding to halt economic activities occasioned by the deadly coronavirus, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), FAAN chapter, is still targeting N100million revenue from the toll collection at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) access gate for the month of March 2020.
The control of the access gates had been enmeshed in controversy following the decision of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to forcefully evict I-Cube West Africa, the concessionaire managing the access gates.
FAAN said the cancellation of the deal with the firm was because the concession expired a year ago.
The concessionaire, however, accused the authority of breach of contract. The matter is before the Federal High Court, Lagos for hearing.
Not a few observers are worried how FAAN is going to generate that much from toll gate that stops operations from 11pm to 5am because of the need to protect toll collectors from exposure to insecurity.
An aviation chief, who pleaded anonymity, said the projection did not look realistic in view of the sharp economic decline.
Chairman, Air Transport Services Senior Staff, Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), FAAN chapter, Ahmed Danjuma, said already, FAAN had been able to garner N80 million from toll collections, adding that by end of March, FAAN would be able to know precisely how much they can get from there.
He said: “Within the first month of operation, I think we generated over N80 million despite the teething problems. Initially, we had the issue of change despite the fact that l- cube had sold off all the stickers, and even 2019 stickers are still being used coupled with the fact that there are so many challenges we had in that place.”
Explaining the security aspect of the task, the labour leader said: “You know our members are not guarded at night, we don’t operate beyond 11pm, so you see the difference between 11pm and 5am; any car passing through there is passing free. Despite all these, we have been able to hit N80 million. So by the end of March, we will be able to know precisely. I assure you we will be able to hit N100 million.”
Danjuma also informed that in a recent meeting with FAAN MD, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, and others, the union had raised the need to establish a free trade zone around the airport environment.
He stated that the idea was brought to Captain Yadudu based on the information they got on how the establishment of the free trade zone would benefit the people.
He, however, pointed out that the concern of the union was that the free trade zone would give room to business owners within the confine of that zone to operate without paying taxes.
According to him, the union frowns at a situation where stakeholders take FAAN for granted going beyond the agreement reached as regards the use of the land allocated for business.
He cited SAHCO as an example that is alleged to have gone beyond doing businesses not stated in the agreement, thereby shortchanging the agency.
“We also drew the attention of management on the operation of SAHCO; we all know SAHCO is a handling company and they were registered with us for that purpose. Land were given to them to build their hangers, their warehouses and the rest, unfortunately, we observed that they have gone outside the mandate of their duty by going into retails, building offices, renting offices to businesses and let them look at it critically; let’s go back to the books, what and where were they allocated and for what purpose and what is obtainable now so that FAAN will not be shortchange.
“And we know there are so many issues that need to be cleared on some of those clients, that was why we particularly drew the attention of the MD to look at others that are likely to be within that zone, to critically look at their documents, the land they occupy, is it within the zone or outside the zone, because we learnt that they are claiming they are fully involved in the zone why we know is not all the land they have that are within the zone, so all these were brought to the MD so that they can look at it critically and ensure that justice is done to FAAN so that FAAN will not lose most especially,” he added.