BASL boosts cargo capacity with new cold storage facilities at MMA2

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) operator of Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) has invested massively in a 25-tonne cold storage facility at its terminal to boost air cargo capacity and offer seamless belly-cargo services.

Unveiling the cold storage facilities at the weekend amid fanfare, the terminal operator came up with an innovation that is arguably the first of its kind by any airport terminal operator in Nigeria, repositioning its desire to continue to offer unparalleled services to its customers.

The cold storage facilities are designed to store perishable goods such as frozen meat, dairy products, plants and flowers, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products among others.

It offers convenience for customers as BASL said it is not only affordable but value composition to their clients, stressing that the more volume they get the more cut in price reduction for prospective users of the cold store.

The firm equally projected that it plans to raise the cold storage facilities to 100 tonnes capacity in the next 24 months as it grows capacity.

Speaking to reporters, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of BASL, Remi Jibodu said, “For us, one of the things we will continue to do at all times is to ensure that we add to the existing infrastructure so that customers will continue to patronize us and to offer those service and this is the opportunity we have been waiting for.

“So, what you are seeing is just a 25-tonne cold storage. This is just the beginning. What we are trying to do is to ensure that we extend it to 100 tonnes in two years. In the next six months, we may even have to move to another place to ensure that we have about 100 tonnes in a few years.”

He disclosed that BASL daily undertake 50 to 60 tonnes of cargo but is constrained to do more because of undercapacity in the sector which saw to the suspension of Dana Air; an airline noted for huge belly-cargo operation and the recent grounding of Arik Air that further shrunk cargo movement.

He further stated that Air Peace hardly engages in cargo operations; a situation he said compounded the situation.

“We are still pushing the 50 tonnes we are doing daily despite. That for us is fantastic. I am sure people will be surprised of the volume we are doing daily.

“In any domestic airport in Nigeria, this is the first in Nigeria. Even the one we have at international here is for the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCo) and not an airport operator that owns that. For us, we think it is very strategic looking at our location.”

“We say we are consuming nation importing everything but the truth about it is that when you import, you have to have a place to store cold cargo. This is the hub of aviation. Apart from the fact that we are using this hub to distribute cargo, the cold aspect of it; I realised some time ago, that you have a B747 bringing almost all cold cargo and we will use B737 to distribute to Accra, Libreville and before daybreak. Where do they store it?

“A lot of people have complained of losing money on 80% perishable of what they brought in because there is nowhere to store it because the other airports they are coming from, there is already a delay; they already lose their ice and getting to this place, there is another delay and customers are complaining seriously about it and the number one priority and we think it is very important for us and international products and secondly, for Lagos itself as an environ for pre-departure and pre-arrival goods so that we can be able to satisfy all of our customers.”

Wole Shadare