SAN FRANCISCO, January 12, (THEWILL) – The Managing Director, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company, Nahco Aviance, Mrs. Tokunbo Fagbemi, has called on the Federal Government to accede to their request for tax exemption on duties for handling equipment.
This is just as she disclosed that the company received N70 million from the N5 billion bailout of the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the pandemic on aviation business in the country.
In an interview with newsmen in Lagos, Fagbemi said, if waivers were given on aircraft spare parts, ground support equipment should also enjoy same from government.
She added that during the pandemic as an Association of Ground Handlers of Nigeria, NAHCO applied for tax exemptions on equipment like what is given to aircraft.
“At the end of the day, these are ground support equipment, support and handle that the aircraft need, so if the aircraft are given zero duty why should we also not enjoy that kind of rebate? We will be happy if that is given”.
The Nahco Aviance boss said, they would be happy if government can give more palliatives in form of zero percent loans and other windows to help them to continue to support the airlines.
“We are also looking at our tax to see if there are some form tax exemptions. We have taken some opportunities where FIRS say, ‘pay before a certain time’, but we have not succeeded in some cases because our systems are actually being reviewed and audited yearly”, she said.
On the Federal Government’s bailout, while commending the government for the N70 million given to NAHCO from the N5 billion for the aviation industry, Mrs. Fagbemi said, they look forward to more palliatives which may not be in the form money for the ground handling companies.
According to her, they had lost so much and having something was better than nothing, adding they would continue to do everything, work with the business environmental to ensure that the organization optimizes its revenue in whatever form to serve its clients better.
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