We are ready to transform Nigeria’s international airports—Bi-Courtney

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), has promised to turn around the fortunes of the four international airports the Federal Government has planned to concession if given the opportunity to operate the airports.

Reacting to the protest march against the Government’s proposed concession of Lagos and Abuja airports by some stakeholders recently, the Head, Corporate Communications of BASL, Steve Omolale, said: “Ordinarily, we would have ignored this selfish, unwarranted and provocative accusation but as the operators of the first successful, privately-funded, Design, Built, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) airport terminal in Nigeria, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), and as a responsible corporate citizen, we must state categorically our position for the benefit of the discerning public who have been supportive of our efforts over the last decade and particularly for all those who yearn for serious improvements in aviation services and infrastructure in the country.

“It is a known fact that over the last 10 years, the multiple award-winning MMA2 terminal, which has been adjudged as the best by various organisations, prominent Nigerians, the international community and most recently by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who enthused at the last Aviation Round Table (ART) that, ‘if MMA2 is a mistake, let the mistake be replicated all over the country, is an evidence of how the private sector can change the narrative of our aviation sector as is the case the world over.

According to Omolale, “if indeed there is any truth in the statements credited to these protesters, we would like to assure the public that BASL is prepared to demonstrate again what it has achieved so far at MMA2, if given the opportunity to operate the airports being proposed for concessioning, because it is now very clear that only the private sector has the capacity to provide the needed infrastructure and technical know-how to help the Federal Government achieve its laudable objectives for the much-needed progress in the aviation industry.

“The aviation industry obviously needs to be revamped to bring the services and infrastructure standards to what is comparable elsewhere in the world with a clear focus on passenger facilitation and comfort all over the country. With our track record and experience at mma2, we are unequivocally committed to this objective and entitled to the option of first refusal for the airports being proposed for concessioning.