By Giwa SHILE
Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) says it has 36 years concession agreement with the Federal Government for the Build, Operate and Transfer of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2).
Mrs Eniola Ade-Solanke, the BASL Manager Communication, said in Lagos that it was not 12 years as being reported.
Ade-Solanke said that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s recent denial of alleged takeover of MMA2 had justified the Bi-Courtney claims.
TBI Africa said that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BASL and FAAN had been engaged in series of litigations over the dispute in the concession agreement for the facility.
Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, the FAAN General Manager, Corporate Affairs, however, told NAN in a telephone interview that she was not aware of any such move by the agency to take over the MMA2 by May 7.
“I have been contacted previously on this issue and I can tell you that I am not aware of any planned takeover of the MMA2 by FAAN.
“The issue between FAAN and Bi-Courtney is being handled by the legal department and that is all I can say,” Yakubu said.
Ade-Solanke, in a statement, said that the FAAN’s recent position had justified the BASL’s claim of 36 years validity of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession model of the airport terminal.
“We will like to set the records straight by stating that BASL entered into a concession agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Build, Operate and Transfer of the MMA2 for 36 years.
“FAAN offered BASL a 36-year lease in a letter dated Oct. 12, 2006, and an agreement was duly signed on the Feb. 2, 2007 by the Minister of Aviation.
“The agreement was further confirmed at a meeting held on July 7, 2009 chaired by a former President, late Umaru Yar’Adua.
“The clear provisions of the concession agreement between Bi-Courtney and the government uphold the operation of the MMA2 Terminal for an undisputed period of 36 years,” she said.
The BASL spokesperson, however, dismissed the claim that the Chairman of BASL, Dr Olawale Babalakin, was frustrating the move to take over the terminal through frantic efforts at the presidency.
Ade-Solanke said it was unfortunate that some unscrupulous elements had continued to stir controversies that would fuel animosity between FAAN and BASL through constant deliberate misinterpretation of the concession agreement.
“MMA2 remains the most modern, functional and well run privately funded domestic airport terminal in sub-Saharan Africa and adjudged the best in Nigeria.
“BASL will continue to fulfil its obligations for the full 36 year term and will remain a pacesetter in the aviation industry and in the promotion of private sector investment critical for economic growth in Nigeria,” she said.
