• Thursday, March 28, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

We have a valid 36 year concession on MMA2 – Bi-Courtney

Bi-Courtney

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2) has established that it has a valid 36 year concession on the terminal.

This statement is coming three days after the Sahara Reporters had reported that a source close to the Ministry of Transport, Aviation Unit, said that the ministry had given the management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) the approval to take over the terminal on the expiration of the 12 years consensual agreement between BASL and the agency.

The report stated that the 12 years would elapse on May 7, 2019, which was the exact date the terminal commenced operations with flight service by the rested Chanchangi Airlines from the terminal.

However, in a statement sent by BASL yesterday, it stressed that Bi-Courtney Ltd. entered into a Concession Agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the Build, Operate and Transfer of the MMA2 for 36 years, adding that the terminal is the most well designed and run terminal in the country operating on very limited revenue and a masterpiece in the provision of public infrastructure through private capital.

According to the statement, “FAAN offered Bi-Courtney a 36-year lease in a letter dated 12th of October 2006 and an agreement was duly signed on the 2nd of Feb 2007 by the Minister of Aviation.

“The agreement was further confirmed at a meeting held on 7th of July 2009 chaired by Late Mallam Umaru Musa Yar’adua, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in attendance with the minister of Aviation, Secretary General to the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation / Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, MD/CEO of FAAN and the Chairman of Bi-Courtney amongst others.”

The statement by the spokesperson of Bi-Courtney, Eniola Ade-Solanke, stated that the clear provisions of the concession agreement between Bi-Courtney and the Government upholds the operation of the MMA2 terminal for an undisputed period of 36 years.

“Since inception, FAAN has not complied with the agreement to handover the GAT which is a property of Bi-Courtney. FAAN through its actions has consistently breached its obligations in the concession agreement and has caused Bi-Courtney a loss of over N250billion.

“The erroneous claims against the chairman of Bi-Courtney in making frantic efforts in the presidency to frustrate a takeover of the terminal is not unconnected to purported attempts to stir up a false sense of alarm and acrimony against the concession.

“The public and media should stop listening to naysayers who have no interest in the growth and development of Nigeria. MMA2 remains the best terminal in Nigeria and no terminal that has been built compares with it.  The appropriate thing is to encourage Bi-Courtney and other private investors and developers to save FAAN from itself and its abysmal management of airport infrastructure,” Ade-Solanke stated.

He also noted that the fictitious claim of alarm and panic causing instability amongst Bi-Courtney staff bears no iota of truth and is absolutely non-existent, adding that Bi-Courtney remains a key employer of labour in the aviation industry committed to providing an environment for strong corporate health without fear, pressure or prejudice.