By Kehinde Jacobs
An act of honesty on the job has put a spotlight on Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC, SAHCO, after one of its cabin cleaners returned a passenger’s purse containing cash and cards found on a British Airways aircraft.
Mr. Ibrahim Bala Zakari, a Cabin Cleaner with SAHCO, was publicly commended this week for recovering a purse at seat number 35K while cleaning British Airways Flight BA8382. Inside the purse was USD 730 in cash and several credit cards.
According to SAHCO, Zakari did not hesitate. In keeping with the company’s core values, he immediately notified the British Airways Cabin Services Duty Manager, CSDM, on duty at the time. The item and all its contents were then transferred to the British Airways Security team for proper documentation, safekeeping, and eventual return to the rightful owner.
SAHCO said Zakari’s conduct reflects the standards the ground handling firm expects from its workforce across Nigerian airports.
“His exemplary conduct reflects the culture of integrity and excellence that defines SAHCO. We celebrate and commend him for setting a standard worth emulating,” the company stated.
For a ground handling company, cabin cleaning crews are often the first to access aircraft after passengers disembark. Lost items such as phones, wallets, travel documents, and jewelry are frequently recovered during post-flight cleaning. Company policy typically requires all found items to be logged and handed over to airline security or airport authorities without delay.
SAHCO noted that Zakari’s immediate reporting of the purse, rather than retaining it, is a direct demonstration of the service culture the firm is building among its frontline staff. The company said it continues to train staff on honesty, accountability, and customer care as part of its operational mandate.
Industry observers say incidents like this help reinforce passenger confidence in Nigeria’s aviation handling services. With millions of naira and foreign currency changing hands daily at airports, how lost property is managed often shapes public perception of ground staff and airlines alike.
British Airways Flight BA8382 operates on the airline’s Nigeria–UK route. SAHCO is one of the approved ground handling companies providing passenger, ramp, and cargo services to several international carriers at major Nigerian airports.
While the passenger who owned the purse has not been named for privacy reasons, SAHCO confirmed that the handover to British Airways Security followed standard procedure to ensure the items reach the owner.
The commendation for Zakari comes at a time when aviation stakeholders are pushing for stronger emphasis on professionalism among airport workers. SAHCO said it will continue to recognize staff who uphold its values, adding that integrity remains “non-negotiable” in its operations.
Zakari’s recognition serves as an internal reminder to other SAHCO employees, and a public example of how small decisions on duty can have a large impact on a company’s reputation.
