Business a.m.

… insists FAAN owes it over N200bn

- Sade Williams with Business AM

The operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos Terminal Two (MMA2), BASL, has said it is not owing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) any amount at all.

Mikail Mumuni, its spokemans, he said “On the contrary, it is FAAN that owes Bi-Courtney over N200 billion by depriving it of its legitimate earnings over the past 14 years.”

This, he said, arose by FAAN opening and operating the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), thus competing with BASL with government money in the running of the Domestic Terminal in a flagrant breach of the concession agreement.

“BASL in line with the dispute resolution process contained in the agreement had an arbitratio­n award in its favour. It also got the judgement of a High Court, six Court of Appeal judgements and a Supreme Court judgement, all in its favour and sustained the monetary award,” he said.

Mumuni stressed that the courts ruled that any debt that may be alleged against BASL by FAAN should be deducted from the credit judgement after due verificati­on.

He added that, “The N14 billion debt mentioned by the minister is totally inconsiste­nt with the demand by FAAN, the body which has been liaising with BASL. Their last demand was about N1bn which was promptly responded to by BASL stating categorica­lly that there was no such debt.”

Mumuni said, “We believe that the minister was not properly briefed by FAAN as we also pay our electricit­y bills as and when due. We equally provide elaborate security at the Terminal which has continued to attract commendati­on from stakeholde­rs. ”

He said BASL is a law abiding company and will continue to obey the laws of the land while providing exceptiona­l services at its facilities

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