From left: Vice-Chairman, The Resort Group, Chief Kola Akinbami, Chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) and Chief Executive Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), a subsidiary of The Resort Group, Captain Jari Williams at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2’s) 10th Anniversary Press Conference held in Lagos yesterday.
The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr Wale Babalakin, has called for the transparent concession of Nigeria’s airports, noting that it is the only solution to obsolete airport infrastructure, lack of critical facilities and stagnancy in the industry.
Babalakin made this known yesterday in Lagos when he chaired the 10 years anniversary of the Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal, known as MMA2, which was built and is being operated by BASL.
He expressed support to the plan of the federal government to concession the airports but noted that for the objective of the concession programme to be realized, it must be done transparently without pandering to any interests.
“Government cannot develop airport infrastructure because it may not have the resources to do so. This is because government has to first meet the basic needs of the citizens. We are still at the stage of meeting the basic needs of Nigerians, which include education and health; so airport and other infrastructure can be provided by the private sector, but for the private sector to invest in such facilities there must be rule of law and such rule of law must be obeyed. So let the concession be done in accordance to the rule of law and be done transparently,” Babalakin said.
He noted that MMA2 is the first privately-funded, Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) terminal in Nigeria, which was inaugurated in May 2007 by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to him, the terminal has the capacity to facilitate four million passengers per annum with modern facilities, such as self-service check-in kiosks, automated access gates, as well as passenger and baggage reconciliation system, adding that MMA2 is the first and only terminal to deploy such in Nigeria.
“The terminal has an obvious passenger and airline demand due to its safety, efficiency and technology. Over the years, MMA2 has been home to major airlines flying to various destinations in Nigeria. MMA2 has handled over 20 million passengers, 400,000 flights and created employment opportunities for over 100,000 people in the past 10 years.The award-winning terminal is also home to retail outlets, shops, restaurants and banks offering a wide range of products,” Babalakin said.
He said despite the opposition that has stifled the project, the terminal “is a product of courage and tenacity.”
This is significant because what started out in a modest way has become the benchmark for how airport terminals should be run.
The Chairman of the Resport Group, said MMA2 was the first successful Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Nigeria, which has changed the face of the aviation industry, leading to airlines and passengers demanding for better services from government-run airports.
“The courage to maintain the facilities amidst stiff opposition is a lesson for private investors wishing to invest in the concession opportunities now made available by government,” he said.
Babalakin said MMA2 is a demonstration of commitment to use private enterprise for the provision of public infrastructure while constantly fulfilling “our obligations to stakeholders, despite the challenges in keeping to the concession agreement signed with government,” adding that hisaudacious initiative has kept inspiring, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services staff and management over the years to keep the focus on sustaining MMA2 terminal to be the best and most innovative terminal in Nigeria.
THISDAY
