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The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, has commended President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the settlement of the more than 18-year dispute surrounding the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), describing the agreement as a victory for Nigeria.

Babalakin gave the commendation at the signing ceremony involving the Federal Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Bi-Courtney Limited and Stabilini Visinoni Limited, following the resolution of the longstanding disagreement.

He credited the President’s intervention, facilitated through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, with helping to resolve the impasse.

“This is not a win for us alone; it is a win for Nigerians,” Babalakin said, while expressing appreciation to the President, the minister and Nigerians who had followed the dispute over the years.

The development is expected to provide a basis for renewed cooperation among the parties and create opportunities for further infrastructure development and expanded operations at MMA2.

In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Mrs. Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, the company said the settlement also addresses outstanding issues arising from the parties’ longstanding commercial relationship, including matters relating to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which remained under FAAN’s control and operation.

The agreement incorporates reciprocal concessions and revised obligations, providing a framework for the parties to move forward.

Babalakin said the resolution sends a positive signal to investors that longstanding disputes between government and private businesses can be resolved through dialogue and constructive engagement.

He noted that prolonged uncertainty could discourage long-term investment, adding that the settlement presents an opportunity to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s investment environment.

The agreement is also expected to facilitate progress on key projects at MMA2, including the proposed Hotel and Conference Centre and the commencement of regional flight operations.

According to Babalakin, completing the hotel and conference facility would provide accommodation and meeting facilities for business travellers, corporate organisations and other airport users, while creating employment opportunities in construction, engineering, hospitality and facility management.

The planned regional flight operations, alongside the proposed expansion of the airport apron, are also expected to create opportunities for skilled employment and commercial growth.

Babalakin assured stakeholders that Bi-Courtney would fulfil its obligations under the agreement and work with the relevant parties to implement its provisions.

“We will not disappoint the President, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, FAAN or Nigerians,” he said.

He added that the settlement offered an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, advance infrastructure development and realise MMA2’s full potential.

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.