SIFAX Group’s Eager To Replicate Changi Airports International In Lagos
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Front row: L-R: Mrs. Yi Ling Tan, Senior Manager, International Projects, Changi Airports International, Singapore; Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Group; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Roy Toh, Director, International Projects, Changi Airports International, Singapore, and Mr. Minn Sett Soe, Deputy Technical Director, Changi Airports International Singapore. Behind is Abayomi Oluyomi, Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State, and Ope George, Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, Lagos State, during a meeting between SIFAX Group and its aviation partner, Changi Airports International, and the Lagos State Government on collaborations to develop Nigeria’s aviation sector
Sifax Group, through its partner, Changi Airports International, Singapore, has solicited patronage to replicate in Nigeria nay Lagos state, the standards, high quality of service, architecture masterpieces, and intrinsic value that made Changi Airport International stands out globally as the primus inter pares among international airports.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor’s Office, Mr. Roy Toh, Director, International Projects, Changi Airports International, said: “The Singapore Airport is a global reference of how aviation terminal management can be done successfully, we hope to replicate our success here in
Nigeria,” Toh said.
Roy Toh explained that, after critical appraisal of Nigerian companies, Sifax Group was the only one found with a verifiable track record hence, “we have partnered with a company with a credible track record, SIFAX Group and we are open to collaboration with the government”, Toh said.
As a corollary to the endorsement of Sifax Group by an executive Director of the leading Asian airport management outfit, the Chairman of the Consortium, Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, said one of the subsidiaries, Sahco Plc, had assumed the company to beat in the aviation ground handling space in the west coast of Africa
Taiwo Afolabi however said the consortium was seeking to explore more business prospects in the air transport sector, such as airport terminal management, airline management and development, and other ancillary services.
He affirmed that “SAHCO is a very good example of the Group’s capacity and expertise in turning around enterprises for growth and profitability. Citing the example of SAHCO Plc which was carved out of the defunct Nigeria Airways and was concessioned to the Group in 2009.
Afolabi noted that SIFAX Group had invested heavily in growing the ground handling firm to become the number one cargo handling company in West Africa, as well as being listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.
On the maritime sector of the blue economy, Afolabi also referred to the Sifax exploits at the Tin Can Island Port terminal. He recounted the transformation brought to the Tin Can Port thus, “Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, is also another example we can reference to solidify our claims. It was in bad shape when we won the concession in 2006 but, years down the line, we are proud of the innovations we have introduced that have transformed the terminal into the leading indigenous terminal in the Lagos port”.
According to the media statement signed by the Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX GROUP, Muyiwa Akande, it highlighted that the consortium had explored various fora which had in attendance, among others, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, to reiterate its commitment to partner with the federal government to establish a profitable national airline.
And that the consortium is also ready to avail the Lagos State Government of its expertise in airport construction and terminal management and the establishment of a robust airline to improve the state government’s revenue, impact tourism development, and create massive employment prospects.
However, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, commended SIFAX Group for its various investments in the state that had contributed greatly to its economic growth and assured that the state government is open to mutually beneficial partnership, and collaboration with the company.
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