BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Federal Government has ended the over 20-year legal battle with Bi-Courtney Limited and Stabilini Visinoni Limited over the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) concession in Lagos.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo stated this at the signing of the final concession agreement between the Federal Government and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services on Tuesday in Abuja.
Under the arrangement, Bi-Courtney waived its N132 billion Supreme Court damages claim, recognising the General Aviation Terminal as Federal Government property, operated by FAAN, even as regional flights were cleared to move to MMA2.
The minister stated that the settlement ended a dispute that had lasted about two decades and involved multiple court cases, adding that the agreement empowers the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to resume collection of concession fees from MMA2.
The dispute resolution also provided the pathway for completing the abandoned hotel and conference centre projects near the airport, even as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the settlement framework on April 30, 2026.
Keyamo said: “The agreement is a significant development for the aviation sector because years of litigation have prevented the parties from resolving their differences and moving forward with the projects.
“Bi-Courtney will waive outstanding claims against the Federal Government, while the Federal Government and FAAN will release specified historical claims against the concessionaire, including accumulated concession fees and related payments arising before the settlement.”
Keyamo informed that FAAN had not earned a kobo from MMA2 in the past 20 years due to the dispute but would now begin to receive revenue under the settlement.
He described the agreement as a reciprocal arrangement under which both parties agreed to relinquish past claims in favour of a new contractual relationship with defined financial and operational obligations.
“Following a series of court proceedings over the parties’ competing claims, the agreement recognises the General Aviation Terminal as Federal Government property, and the government has agreed to allow Bi-Courtney to expand its apron and accommodate regional flights within Africa at MMA2, subject to the terminal’s capacity.
“The agreement also restores rights relating to the hotel and conference centre, which have remained incomplete for years following a separate dispute over their leases,” he added.
Keyamo appealed to Bi-Courtney Limited to complete the abandoned buildings to improve the airport’s surroundings and create jobs, adding that the agreement would safeguard regulatory oversight, airport security, emergency arrangements and maintenance standards.
He pointed out that the settlement’s success would be measured by the completion of the facilities, renewed government revenue and improved services for passengers and other airport users.
The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin praised the Federal Government for facilitating an agreement on an issue that had remained unresolved for more than 18 years.
He stated that the settlement would unlock investment, generate well-paying jobs and improve the appearance of the airport environment.
Briefly
The dispute originated from a concession agreement signed by the Federal Government and the two companies on April 24, 2003, covering the design, construction, operation and eventual transfer of the domestic terminal.
This is even as the concession, which initially provided for a 12-year term commencing on May 7, 2007, was subsequently extended to 36 years but disagreements over financial entitlements, the terminal’s operations and ownership of related airport facilities led to prolonged litigation across multiple courts, including the Supreme Court.
However, a separate dispute arose over leases for the hotel and conference centre, which FAAN terminated in April 2012, over alleged failure to meet construction obligations, while Bi-Courtney challenged the termination in court.
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