Bi-Courtney Decries Delay In Starting Regional Operations At MMA2

Chairman, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin, has decried delay in starting regional operations from the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal two (MMA2), Lagos, years after being granted approval by government.

While decrying the underutilisation of the terminal built 16 years ago under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, he said the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) legally belongs to BASL, adding that even when the terminal has all facilities for regional flights, government authorities have refused to allow it operate.

In May 2007, BASL completed and opened the MMA2 facility under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The Ministerial Committee on Airport Security had certified the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, fit for the commencement of regional operations.in 2016.

Following the visit to the facility, the committee, set up by the Federal Government to assess the security situation in all Nigerian airports, expressed satisfaction with the level of security at the terminal.

But the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is yet to grant regulatory approval for the operations after it cancelled earlier approvals twice.

Speaking shortly after inaugurating The Art Experience (Art Gallery) at the MMA2 and the commemoration of the 16 years anniversary of the terminal, Babalakin urged government to make the country investment friendly for investors by respecting the rule of law.

‘I am alarmed that we have not commenced regional operations because we went through the entire process, we were certified but we’ve not been allowed to take off. Then GAT is still operating illegally because based on the judgement of the Supreme Court, the GAT is part of our facility. I hope that those who have power and in the position of authority will know that you encourage enterprise when you follow the rule of law. Once you follow the rule of law, your country will become an investment destination but if people are looking at us from afar and say what am I going to do here when simple agreement has not been honoured, it’s not good for anybody in the county.”, he said.

The Bi-Courtney boss, who revealed that the MMA2 terminal remains a world class and the best in the country, explained that the best architects were engaged to design the terminal that will stand the test of time.

“The first thing is that it was a deliberate effort. The design was a major assignment, we didn’t just start building, we sat down with the best of architects in the world to design a terminal that will have a flow, it is the flow that has made it easy for people to operate here. You can see the link between the car and the terminal, so you are a not going through a disjointed journey because you want to travel, you can see that from when you come off the escalator, it is a seamless process till you board the plane” he said.