Aviation business is no wonderland for crack investors, less a tea party for mean businessmen. Maintenance of aircraft, staff welfare and other sundry management issues gives little encouragement to investors. Due to this assertion for a long period in Nigeria, government was a major player in the industry.
However one of the units of the industry that is very crucial and essential to the development and smooth running of the activities of the airlines is the ground handling services. The handling business of the aviation subsector focus on complex operation. This service specifically deals with the series of pre-flight preparations and post-flight activities carried out to ensure safe, smooth and expedient clearing of passengers, baggage, cargo, mails and other materials associated with transport. Also the turnaround maintenance of an aircraft is also part of these services.
Improvements in the aviation sector that turned out visible through the attainment of a category one status in 2010 heralded the willingness of investors to find out how deep the perceived shallow waters of the Nigeria aviation subsector. Butake Resources Limited, a major company specialized in ground handling services saw the need to convince investors that the aviation industry in Nigeria is one ocean deep and wide enough for investors to explore.
Licensed in 2012 by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to provide ground handling services in all airports in Nigeria, Batuke Resources Limited (BRL) is actively working towards positioning itself as a leading service provider in the provision of aviation ground handling services in Nigeria. BRL to this end have continued to provide efficient passengers, cargo, mails, and aircraft handling services in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) recommended best practices using reliable, safe and state of the art Airport Ground Support Equipment and trained and highly qualified personnel.
Since the incorporation of these services in the aviation industry and the coming on board of BRL less record have been recorded on loss of luggage or goods at airports or on board the plane. More so, Nigerians have come to appreciate the role of aviation handling organ of the industry due to professionalism and best practices the company adopts in handling goods and luggage of air travellers right from the airport to other destination with proper records kept.
Airlines in years past handled the series now rendered by the Butake resources, due to serial complains of missing or damaged cargoes. “You are assured the goods will come in good condition , sometimes better than when you go through the airlines because the handling companies are well equipped with well trained workforce that handle both airlines and cargo” The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Butake resources, Alhaji Bello Salihu told Time Nigeria.
Broadening the scope and services in this subsector of the aviation industry, Butake brings to the aviation industry an all round exceptional service delivering covering passengers, baggage, cargo, mails, aircraft handling and general operations services. With state of the art equipments the company provides service for airlines and passengers based on the agreement reached with parties. “Some airlines would like full services which their personnel can only supervise while some airlines would want only equipment services.
“We have the warehouses where we keep their cargo, baggage and we take inventory of such goods. We work hand in hand with the security agencies and the customs too where these goods are either kept in their custody or in our ware house after proper recording,” Salihu explained.
Of recent, pilgrims on Hajj in Kaduna experienced the professionalism of the Butake Resources Limited. The company maintains a good relationship with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that is in charge of all airports in the country.
