By Chukwuma Umeorah
Basking on its robust half-year 2025 results of N32.33 billion, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc says it is charting its diversification path into the hospitality sector while expanding its commodity logistics sectors.
The performance, backed by enhanced cost efficiency and strategic execution, has also positioned the company to pursue its five-year target of N300 billion in revenue.
Details of the company’s unaudited results for the period ended June 30, 2025, filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), showed revenue growth of 102.06 per cent year-on-year, up from N16 billion in H1 2024. This translated into a 166.7 per cent rise in profit after tax to N8.88 billion, reflecting sustained expansion in profitability and returns.
Chairman of NAHCO, Seinde Fadeni, attributed the results to disciplined implementation of the company’s growth strategy and expanding footprint in its core businesses. He noted that the firm was now building new revenue lines to support its long-term vision.
“We are implementing a structured growth strategy that seeks not only to consolidate our leadership in aviation ground handling, but also to broaden our income base through new ventures. The year was one of tremendous progress, marked by significant achievements and a renewed sense of purpose across all facets of our operations,” Fadeni said.
He revealed that NAHCO plans to deepen its diversification by building a hotel as part of its entry into the hospitality industry, while also growing its presence in commodity export logistics to support Nigeria’s drive for non-oil export earnings. These efforts, he said, aligned with the company’s goal of becoming a total logistics and export services provider.
“The company continues to adapt and push forward, maintaining operational efficiency and striving to uphold its standard of service excellence and increased shareholders’ value.”
Gross profit rose by 117.73 per cent to N19.16 billion from N8.80 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, while operating profit climbed by 126.9 per cent to N11.64 billion. Profit before tax stood at N11.79 billion, representing a 148.21 per cent increase from the previous year. Earnings per share (EPS) rose from N1.71 to N4.55.
The company’s margins also improved, with gross profit margin rising to 59.26 per cent from 55 per cent, and operating profit margin up to 36 per cent from 32.06 per cent. Pre-tax profit margin reached 36.5 per cent, compared to 29.7 per cent a year earlier. Return on assets and equity climbed significantly to 20.14 per cent and 51.09 per cent, respectively.
These numbers point to NAHCO’s growing efficiency and scaling capacity, reinforcing its strong 2024 full-year performance in which it reported a 115.4 per cent growth in pre-tax profit to N18.70 billion and an 88.5 per cent jump in total revenue to N53.54 billion.
Fadeni explained that the company had also intensified investment in digital infrastructure, including the rollout of Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Human Capital Management (HCM) platforms, to improve operational efficiency and support real-time decision-making.
“In the last one year, we have also intensified efforts to modernise our operations. The company has been re-fleeting its equipment, and we are on track to replace all ageing assets by December 2025,” he said.
On human capital, Fadeni disclosed that NAHCO recently implemented a 50 per cent salary increase for staff, along with profit-sharing and performance bonuses, which have driven internal cohesion and morale.
“We have emerged over time as the face of resilience in the aviation industry. We support good causes. We represent the best in Nigeria’s aviation in corporate governance, in staff welfare, and in profitability,” he added.
The Group Managing Director, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, highlighted operational milestones, including the recertification of NAHCO’s stations in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, and the recent commissioning of the country’s first Export Packaging and Processing Centre in Lagos.
“We have embarked on a journey that not only strengthens our foothold in the global market but also contributes to the economic development of Nigeria,” Olumekun stated.
He said NAHCO’s transformation is anchored on four core pillars: sustained revenue growth, equipment re-fleeting, digital transformation, and integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks.
“Since transitioning from being the foremost ground handling service provider in the entire sub-region to being a diversified, total logistics group, we have been driven by the earnest desire to provide an unmatched level of excellent service delivery to our clients. This commitment has become more urgent as we seek to satisfy new demands for excellence and to improve shareholder value,” he said.
Olumekun also acknowledged the support of the company’s staff, customers, and shareholders, noting that their contributions have been instrumental to NAHCO’s steady year-on-year growth.
“We will continue to work together to ensure even better performance for the company,” he added.
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