The Federal Government and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited has signed a final agreement to resolve their 18-year dispute over the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described the deal as historic.
TheFact Daily noted that the dispute, which stemmed from a concession agreement signed in 2003, generated years of litigation over financial claims, concession rights and related facilities, including a four-star hotel and conference centre.
However Keyamo said settlement would restore government revenue and pave the way for the completion of abandoned projects at the airport.
“Today is a very historic day in the history of aviation in Nigeria,” Keyamo said, adding that the settlement was approved by the Federal Executive Council on April 30, 2026, under President Bola Tinubu.
Keyamo said both parties had agreed to waive specified historical claims and fulfil their obligations under the new arrangement.
“This is a reciprocal settlement. Both sides have agreed to surrender claims so that the relationship can proceed on defined terms,” he said.
He added that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would resume collecting concession fees from MMA2 after years of dispute.
“FAAN had not earned a kobo from MMA2 for the last 20 years because of disputes. Today, FAAN begins to earn its money from that settlement,” he said.
Under the agreement, the General Aviation Terminal will remain government property under FAAN’s operation, while Bi-Courtney will be allowed to expand its apron and accommodate regional African flights, subject to capacity.
Keyamo urged Bi-Courtney Chairman, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, to complete the abandoned hotel and conference centre.
“The public is watching you. Go and finish those buildings,” he said.
Babalakin thanked Tinubu and Keyamo for resolving the dispute, saying the agreement would create jobs and improve the airport environment.
“It’s been on for over 18 years. The facts are the same, the issues are the same, yet it remained unresolved until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through his minister, Mr Festus Keyamo, found a solution,” he said.
He pledged that Bi-Courtney would honour the agreement, adding: “We will not disappoint the President, we will not disappoint the Ministry, we will not disappoint FAAN, we will not disappoint the nation.”
