ICRC moves to resolve MMA2 concession row

The decade-old concession crisis between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport II (MMA2), may soon end as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) met the two parties yesterday.

The ICRC also visited the multimillion naira hotel and conference centre projects abandoned for more than 10 years amid gale of litigations.

During the visit, Chairman of Bicourtney, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), expressed regret that certain misconceptions had been “sold, bought and distributed to Nigerians about the MMA2 concession.”

The ICRC team, led by its acting Director General, Chidi Izuwah, met with the two parties to explore avenues of resolving the impasse.

FAAN and BASL have been at loggerheads over the terms of the concession agreement which have been subject of unending litigations.

With the controversy trailing the agreement, the two projects: a conference centre and a four-star hotel, near FAAN headquarters, being undertaken by BASL have been stalled for over a decade despite reaching advanced stages.

The ICRC boss who said the visit was to bring an end to the seemingly intractable controversy, decried the fate that had befallen the two projects.

Babalakin said the concession agreement was drafted by one Professor Akanle, a consultant engaged by the Ministry of Aviation, contrary to the misconception in public space that Bi-Courtney drafted it for FAAN to sign.

Besides, he also dispelled the misconception that the concession did not follow due process, arguing that Sanderton Limited won the bid for the reconstruction of the burnt domestic terminal and could not do anything on the site for one year following which BASL was invited as a reserved bidder.

Speaking on behalf of FAAN, Deputy General Manager, PPP, Mrs. Monica Alphonse, insisted that GAT had never been part of the concession agreement.