…….facility to provide 10,000 meals a day, features bakery, laundry
…….generates foreign exchange, jobs…..Lai
…….poised to provide responsive and customized services….Sirika
…….it is the ‘Amazing Grace of God’, appreciates Senator Oduah……Omikunle
A Multi-million dollars catering facility has opened at the Free Trade Zone of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos to cater for local and International cuisines.
The Catering facility, LSG operates under the name ” Sky Chefs and Things Remembered Nigeria Ltd has employed over 400 Nigerians to work in the state-of -art facility.
The opening of the facility was graced by Who is Who in the aviation industry, heads of aviation agencies,government functionaries in the FZE business, foreign partners, competitors, politicians, family members, friends and well-wishes.
At the inauguration of the facility, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said he was elated to be the part of the history that brought about the facility which had the capacity to generate foreign exchange into the country, lead to transfer of technology and farmers delight as it would help them to comply with international standards and best practices.
“It has the potentials for human capital development, assist indigenous farmers to develop their capacity and compliance mechanism to international standards”.
Chairman, Board of Directors, Mrs. Adeola Omikunle in her address of welcome tagged ‘Amazing Grace of God’ went down memory lane to relieve how the entire process started.
According to her, after three unsuccessful years in trying to get approval to commence the project, the former Minister of Aviation Princess Adaeze Oduah came to her rescue because she believed and had the confidence in the project that it would not only attract more investments into the aviation industry but stimulate activities, bring about employment and show to the world that Nigeria and Nigerians have the capacity to pull a business through till it achieve success.
” I went back and forth to Abuja for the next four weeks and on my 4th trip to Abuja, Anne took me tot he then Honorable Minister for Aviation, Princess Stella Odua. Within ten minutes, tot he glory of the Almighty God, what i had been on for three years was approved. I remember her words – it still resonates in my head till today – “ I hope you will make we women proud, thank my PS“. I was in shock to say the least. These were two ladies I had never met before, but I recall the words of Richard; she is a fantastic woman, a mother indeed!. Thank you very much my sister and friend, Anne, thank you Richard for being there all the time even till now. God bless you”.
While appreciating all who contributed in one way or the other, Mrs. Omikunle noted that the former Managing Director,FAAN, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun in no small way played a great role in the reality of the facility.
“Managing Director, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, advised that I should go the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja and channel my request through the Permanent Secretary. I had never been to the Federal Secretariat before let alone Minsitry of Aviation”.
According to Chairman,”The next phase was getting a foreign partner for this huge project as our focus had now changed – Foreign Airlines!!. God dropped in my spirit to call the Senior Catering Manager, Arik Air, a Briton, based in Arik Air London office, Mr. Chris Bell. He contacted both Dinata and LSG on my behalf. Within a week, I received an email from Mr. Alfred Rigler. Alfred Rigler, Tobias Diebold and I finally met in London Marriot in January 2014. That was the beginning of our marriage. I bless the Lord for making today a reality.
Of course there were big hurdles, funding, procurement of relevant licenses etc, but God Almighty saw us through all”.
Minister of state, Aviation senator Hadi Sirika while commending Sky Chefs and Things Remembered for investing in Nigeria and was committed to providing airlines with the best catering available.
Sirika represented by the Managing Director, Sky Catering services, Mr. Paul Obla said the latest technology and innovative management was combined to meet airlines high catering standards .
“The inauguration of this facility when Nigeria is just emerging from a recession demonstrates that this partnership has the confidence to look beyond the slow down and to position itself for the future”.
He added,”Airlines will demand high quality, impeccable hygiene standards and price competitiness from in flight caterers. Hence, Sky Chefs Things Remembered Services FZE is poised to provide responsive and customized services to meet the needs of the airlines”.
The chief operations officer at LSG Group Jochen Muller speaking on the facility said,”Nigeria is an economic magnet in Africa and, thanks to the expected growth, a promising location for us”.
” I am very proud of our team. They have built an exemplary operation that meets international quality standards and sets new ones on the continent”, he added.
Things Remembered Nigeria Ltd, is a Nigerian catering entity that is already successfully active in the airline catering and airport restaurant and lounge business. The joint venture with LSG Lufthansa Services Holding AG was founded in November 2014, offers airlines departing LOS complete catering services.
The new facility is equipped with state-of -the-art technology , mostly imported from Europe. It is also 100% Halal and designed to produce up to 10,000 meals a day. In addition to meal production, the plant features a bakery and laundry.
