Fromeft: Monica Oguta, Head, Aviation Security; Kola Bamigboye, Head, Space and Premises Management; Blessing Ewah, Head, Operations; and Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, Head, Corporate Communications, all of BASL, operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Ikeja, Lagos, at a press conference on Wednesday
Posted by Sade Williams
Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL) has insisted it has the facilities required for regional flight operations from the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal two (MMA2), saying over N600 million has been expended in it in preparation for the service.
Blessing Ewah, head of operations, BASL, who disclosed this while taking journalists on tour of facilities at the terminal on Wednesday, said all the agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had assessed and approved the facilities after all necessary requirements were met, wondering why operations were yet to commence.
“We are actually ready, the terminal is ready, gates 5 and 6 here have been dedicated for regional flights. We have invested over N600 million in the facilities for this operation and we have not recouped one naira, it all started in 2014, “he said.
Recall that Ministerial Committee on Airport Security in 2016, certified the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, fit for the commencement of regional operations.
In April 2023, Chairman of BASL, Dr Wale Babalakin, after inaugurating ‘The Art Experience’ (Art Gallery) in MMA2, had stated that despite the terminal being granted approval by FG, there were still delays in starting regional operations from the MMA2.
‘‘I am alarmed that we have not commenced regional operations because we went through the entire process, we were certified but we have not been allowed to take off.
“I am shocked because the MMA2 terminal was built to provide services for both regional and domestic passengers, but it is presently underutilised.
“We had already spent several millions of naira to acquire the state-of-the-art facilities in preparation for regional flight operations, but the inconsistency in government policy despite the approval, had prevented it from using the facilities.” he had said.
The operators added the MMA2 terminal remains the best in Nigeria, citing that the best architects were engaged to design the terminal that last.
Ewah on Wednesday, insisted that everything requested for and required according to standards for regional operations are in place, adding, ‘ the infrastructure is still in place, we are positive, it will be a beautiful thing for us to start regional operations this year’.
