The aviation sector is set for yet another round of controversy as the Federal Government today inaugurates the remodelled General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in the old domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja, Lagos raising fresh concerns over the control of the terminal in the concession agreement the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) signed with Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited, managers of the MMA 2, Ikeja, Lagos.
Stakeholders in the sector including Mr. Olu Ohunayo, Head of Research, Zenith Travels, who spoke on the development, explained that until issues bordering on the clarity of public private partnerships are clear in Nigeria, it will be difficult to attract the right investors.
He said it is time government sorted out the issues concerning any vexed agreement or it’s content, so that the industry could be put on a sound footing for airlines to thrive.
Another expert, an airline operator, who pleaded not to be named, said the taking over of the General Aviation Terminal by the government through remodelling, expansion and ultimate completion will be a great disservice to the spirit of public private partnership in Nigeria.
He said his position is predicated on the shabby implantation of the concession agreement between government and the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, as it affects their concession of the domestic terminals of the Lagos Airport.
The airline operator expressed concerns over the disregard of court orders by the government and its agents on the issue, which gave right to the concessionaire to manage both terminals.
Another industry player, who declined to give his name, described the take over of the old domestic terminal from the concessionaire as an evidence of power play, as it would put the concessionaire of the new terminal, MMA2, in a tight position to recover its investment before handing over the facility to the government, even as the tenure of the concession is still in dispute.
There is, however, anxiety that some of the existing domestic carriers may want to relocate to the remodelled General Aviation Terminal.
The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, said yesterday that the General Aviation Terminal does not belong to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.
Speaking through her media assistant, Mr. Joe Obi, the minister said: “Information at our disposal indicates that Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd, the Concessionaire to MM2, is apparently threatened by the imminent opening of the newly-reconstructed and remodelled GAT, Lagos.
“To be sure, the area where GAT is located has never been part of the area concessioned to Bi-Courtney Ltd. The agreement with Bi-courtney has a survey plan clearly marked in square metres and the area of the GAT was never contemplated to be part of the area leased to Bi-Courtney.
“Nigerians can recall the dilapidated and decrepit state of the nation’s airports, including GAT, prior to the assumption of office of the current minister. Today, 11 airports, including the GAT, are an elegant testimony of the desire and determination of the minister to give Nigerians what they truly deserve-airports of their dreams that compare to any such facility anywhere in the world.
“It is inconceivable that anyone would not only contemplate, but also hold fast to the jaundiced belief that a nation as big and great as Nigeria ought not to progress beyond having a terminal like MM2.”
Oduah further said: “Regarding allegations that there are subsisting court orders restraining anybody, including FAAN, which is the landlord of all federal airports in Nigeria from further development of the GAT, we need to stress that the cases are still ongoing. In fact, our case is before the Supreme Court, challenging the orders being referred to mainly, but not limited to the fact that in several of these cases, FAAN, as a principal interested party, was never fully represented.
