BUSINESS IS DIFFICULT WITH COVID-19 BUT LUFTHANSA IS COMMITTED TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION – LUFTHANSA STATION MGR, ADEWALE SANI
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Dr. Adewale Sani, Station Manager, Lufthansa
The aviation industry has been badly hit with the coronavirus pandemic that has swept across the world. From a total lockdown on global travel to a gradual easing of the business space and a current close of the airspace in some countries, the situation calls for constant thinking on the feet, reflection and innovation to be able to cater to the needs of customers.
Lufthansa’s Station Manager at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Dr. Adewale Sani who was one of the eminent Nigerians that were honored at the seventh edition of Trek Africa National Discourse and Awards, TAND2020 held at Golden gate, Ikoyi Lagos.
L-R: Dr. Adewale Sani, Station Manager, Lufthansa receiving his award of excellence from Oki Samson, Publisher, Trek Africa Newspaper.
During Trek Africa Newspaper’s management courtesy visit to Dr. Sani at his MM2 International Airport’s office to officially present his award, had an exclusive chat with the media crew led by Oki Samson in which he shared his outlook on the issues in the Aviation sector, how the organization has coped, how it has provided customer satisfaction, and his personal and philanthropic efforts aimed at charting a course for young Nigerians.
Trek Africa: Will the aviation sector be shut down due to the second wave of Covid-19 following the increased deaths in the UK and South Africa?
Adewale Sani: There are two sides to it. Firstly, I work for Lufthansa. For us we accept passengers into the UK but are not allowed to bring them back out of the UK due to the current regulations that means passengers that are travelling to the UK will go but will have to ferry the aircraft back empty. On the other side, for me is that in my personal opinion, I know the presidential task force is already discussing it and what we can only do is wait for them and their decision.
Trek Africa: How do you manage the case of flying back an empty aircraft to Nigeria?
Adewale Sani: Yes it’s expensive but we started this in March, 2020 when the Covid pandemic hit the Nigerian aviation market. It’s difficult to manage but it’s better to have something than to have nothing. The best thing for us is to keep the business going and we know it won’t be or might not be profitable because when we go with 50-70% low factor and coming back empty is a difficult economic analysis. But we still have to take care of our customers and safety to their final destination.
Trek Africa: With the recent wave of Covid-19 pandemic, is there a possibility that staff will be laid off?
Adewale Sani: No. No. you will understand with us that with the reduction of flight. The workforce will have to reduce. I know it is still 50-50 but I know there is a lot of improvement already.
Trek Africa: With the second wave of Covid-19, what measure is Lufthansa taking to curb the spread of the virus in terms of safety?
Adewale Sani: For us we have a standard face mask, you will have to have PCR and when on board, you will permanently use the face mask and the aircraft is safe and completely checked. We have air filters on board and its zero tolerance to any diseases across. In terms of safety, we are completely compliant and doing everything possible to ensure safety of our passengers on board and out of the aircraft.
L-R: Theresa Moses; Dr. Adewale Sani; Oki Samson and Abiodun Oluwafunmilayo during the presentation of award to Dr. Sani at his office in MM2 Int’l Airport, Ikeja.
Trek Africa: With all the measures in place, do you think Nigerians in terms of compliance are obeying or supporting the rules and regulations to curtail the spread of the virus?
Adewale Sani: Yes at an initial state I know a lot of Nigerians didn’t follow the strict rules. It’s a bit more of an orientation issue. Now that the laws are enforced that without the facemask one will be arrested by the Lagos state government, I think people are complying. It’s just for the government agencies, the taskforce and adheres to the lay down rules for safety. I understand a lot of Nigerians will always say no. I’ve travelled out of Lagos and a lot of people are not using it. When I got to an event supposed to be for ten people but saw a lot of people, about 20-30 without face masks, I left. For them they thought it was arrogance but I left because a lot of them were not using face masks and it would not be safe for me. Even if I was using it, I was the only one using it. It’s more of an orientation to Nigerians that it’s serious and let’s follow the government instructions and keeps ourselves and family safe.
Trek Africa: Adewale Sani is a name that rings a bell in the aviation sector. What do you do aside aviation or would have loved to venture into?
Adewale Sani: What I actually do during my free time is humanitarian services. Am a Rotarian and was the president 2019/2020, rotary club of Maryland, one of the largest clubs in Africa. This is what I love to do. I have a foundation, Adewale Sani Foundation that helps elderly people and youths. What we do is go to the street, meet the young lads running up and down on the street selling water, pick them up, put them in a school, teach them how to do business and then give them little credit to start their business and we monitor them. This is what I do aside from Lufthansa. It’s just about humanitarian, taking off poverty. You will be surprised that what they actually need to start their business is not more than ten thousand naira. It’s from my experience, we met a lot of people, and it doesn’t really need major money to start this pure water business. We gave out one hundred thousand naira (ten thousand naira each to ten people) and now we have 500 people who have benefitted. As soon as they pay, someone else is waiting to do the same. They pay with little one per cent just to manage them. Its outside rotary but it is still part of humanitarian.
As rotary president during my year with my board we were able to put up I.T Centres at two secondary schools. One at Wasi, Maryland and another at Bolade Grammar School, Oshodi. At Wasi, we did 20 systems when we had to put wi-fi, generator for back up for electricity and we did the basic training and also Bolade, a generator, 2 laptops, multi-media system to do their training because we realise that a lot of them didn’t see computer until they eventually get to the university. Looking at that weak point I decided to take that as a project because I am also an I.T person. I pick design thinking during my free time. Design thinking is knowledge of thinking outside the box. So this is what I do aside from being a station manager.
Trek Africa: With your vast knowledge and working with a leading airline, Lufthansa, what effort have you taken to bring your knowledge to the transportation mainstream considering the fact that we don’t appreciate our own that’s why the Americans value and respect Nigerians in Diaspora?
Adewale Sani: In general, having met a lot of Nigerians outside the country, Nigerians to be honest are very brilliant and a lot of us are naturally intelligent. We have a lot of realists within Nigerian and outside Nigeria. The only issue that I know is people getting to know you can do this before they recommend you. I know that’s a weak point and we have amazing and good Nigerians without being recommended for certain jobs. But I know the country is still trying to make sure they pick the best. Yet it’s our low side but am optimistic that we will get to that point and we will have the best in certain places to run in the country. Personally, I work for a multi-national but few times I’ve been opportune to have a presentation, I’ve always pointed it out and a lot of friends I have, we do share knowledge, at least we’ve known each other to what we can do and the quality that we have. It’s really difficult to say this is everything I can do, but it’s just that when we have the opportunity, we will do more.
Trek Africa: Do you have interest in politics?
Adewale Sani: No. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow anyway. Nobody knows what will happens when I leave the job but I am happy here. When you work for multinationals, honestly you learn a lot.
