The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stepped up vigilance across airport operations following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging passengers and other airport users to remain calm and cooperate with health officials.

The authority said it was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Port Health Services, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant agencies to support efforts to contain the disease and protect public health.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, assuring the public that the authority remained alert to developments and would continue to coordinate its response with relevant health agencies.

Agbebire said FAAN would align its actions with public health directives and support additional measures considered necessary to safeguard passengers, airport workers and other users of the country’s airports.

He noted that the early identification of the case and the commencement of contact tracing underscored the importance of effective disease surveillance, established public health protocols and cooperation among government agencies.

The FAAN spokesperson urged passengers, airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and cooperate with health officials as containment efforts continued.

He also advised members of the public to obtain information from credible, verified sources and refrain from circulating unconfirmed reports capable of creating unnecessary panic.

FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant government agencies to protect public health while ensuring that airport operations across the country remain safe and efficient.

The authority said it would continue to respond to further guidance from public health officials as efforts to contain the reported case progressed.

The Federal Government’s settlement of its nearly two-decade dispute with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) has cleared a major contractual obstacle to regional flight operations from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), while opening the way for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to begin collecting concession fees from the facility.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the resolution in Abuja on Tuesday, describing it as a significant breakthrough in the relationship between the government and the private terminal operator.

Under the settlement, BASL will resume concession fee payments to FAAN in line with the original concession agreement, while both parties will relinquish historical claims against each other and operate under a clearer framework for meeting their contractual obligations.

The agreement also allows BASL to expand its apron facilities to accommodate regional flights across Africa, subject to the terminal’s operational capacity and applicable regulatory requirements. The provision is expected to create room for increased airline operations and stronger air connectivity between Lagos and other African destinations.

Keyamo said the settlement would also remove BASL’s exclusive rights under Article 2 of the original concession agreement, giving the Federal Government greater flexibility in planning future developments within the airport complex.

He further disclosed that the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) had been formally recognised as Federal Government property and placed under FAAN’s operational control, resolving another major point of disagreement between the parties.

The minister said FAAN had been unable to receive concession revenue from MMA2 for approximately 20 years because of the prolonged dispute. He expressed optimism that the settlement would end the impasse and establish a more productive relationship between the government and the concessionaire.

“However, settling past claims comes with clear obligations for the future. Upon execution of the agreement, the concessionaire is to commence payment of the concession fees due under the original agreements,” Keyamo said.

As part of the reciprocal arrangement, the Federal Government agreed to waive historical claims against BASL, including accumulated concession fees and specified ancillary payments arising before the settlement was executed.

The resolution is also expected to support further investment in MMA2, with the planned apron expansion providing additional capacity for regional operations, subject to the necessary approvals and operational requirements.

BASL Chairman, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervening through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to bring the longstanding disagreement to an end.

Babalakin said the dispute had persisted for more than 18 years despite the fundamental issues remaining substantially unchanged, adding that the president’s intervention helped both parties reach a compromise.

“We have found a solution to this issue,” he said, expressing appreciation to the president and Nigerians for their support.

He said the agreement would create employment opportunities, particularly well-remunerated jobs, and encourage improvements to the terminal’s appearance and renewed progress on projects that had stalled.

Babalakin also expressed hope that the resolution would strengthen investor confidence by demonstrating that disagreements between businesses and government could be addressed through dialogue and mutually acceptable settlements.

The agreement marks a new phase in the relationship between FAAN and BASL, with its practical benefits expected to depend on the implementation of the revised contractual arrangements, the commencement of concession payments and the fulfilment of requirements for regional flight operations at MMA2.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed that discussions on financing the proposed extension of the Lagos Mass Transit Red Line Rail to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) have reached an advanced stage.

FAAN Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mrs. Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, said the agency was working to complete the financing structure for the project, which is expected to connect the airport’s three terminals to the Lagos Red Line rail network.

Kuku disclosed this while speaking as a keynote panellist at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, during a session themed “Defining the Airport of the Future—Technology, Partnerships and People.”

“We are actually working on completing the financing of the capital structure for that project,” she said.

According to her, the proposed rail link would provide faster connections between the city and the airport, with five stops within the airport complex. It would also connect the passenger terminals and extend to the cargo terminals.

She said the project would be implemented through collaboration between the Federal Government, FAAN and the Lagos State Government as part of the wider modernisation of MMIA.

Kuku also outlined plans to overhaul the airport’s Terminal 1, saying the project would focus on improving operational efficiency, passenger movement and the use of modern technology rather than expanding the terminal.

“The MMIA has had no major infrastructure upgrade since it was built. We have just embarked on that upgrade,” she said, adding that Lagos accounts for 68 per cent of Nigeria’s airport traffic.

She explained that the terminal’s internal layout was being redesigned, including immigration and customs facilities and the number of service counters, to make passenger processing more efficient and convenient.

The FAAN chief said the agency was balancing infrastructure investments across the country’s airports, with safety remaining its primary consideration.

She said that over the past three years, the authority had focused on rehabilitating major airports, particularly the primary international gateways, to strengthen operational safety and functionality.

According to Kuku, Nigeria’s international airports are also undergoing runway rehabilitation, including complete resurfacing of runway extensions where possible, as well as the installation of improved airfield lighting systems at two airports.

She noted that Lagos handles the largest share of the country’s air traffic, followed by Abuja, while Kano is among the other major airports accounting for a substantial proportion of passenger movements.

Kuku said the concentration of traffic at a few major airports made it necessary for FAAN to prioritise investments according to safety requirements, operational needs and the wider economic importance of air transport.

She added that the modernisation of MMIA was aimed at improving passenger experience and ensuring the airport’s infrastructure could support more efficient operations.