Babalakin seeks payment of N200 billion from FG over GAT

The chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin, wants the federal government to pay him N200billion as total sum of money that he ought if he had been allowed to operate the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) after the agreement had been signed while commencing operations of the Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MMA 2).

Dr. Babalakin, at a media briefing to mark the 10th anniversary of the terminal, in Lagos said despite six judgements in his favour since 2012, government has refused to obey.

He said the agreement signed between his company and the government, no other firm or individual was supposed to be allowed to operate airports in Lagos state.

Babalakin said government has failed to obey all the court judgements between Bi-Courtney and government agencies after exhausting all peaceful avenues to resolve the issue.

He said in spite of the unending tussle, that MMA2 had, in the past 10 years, recorded 20 million passengers, processed over 400,000 flights and provided 100,000 jobs .

Babalakin said the Murtala Muhammed Airport II, (MMA 2) airport terminal operated by his company has remained the choice of passengers in the whole of Africa but decried the inability of the terminal to commence regional operations as a result of the role played by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in ensuring that the terminal does not operate regional.

He added that all the necessary facilities to enhance regional operations have been fixed but these government agencies were not ready to give approval.

According to Dr. Babalakin, the terminal remained a project of courage as the first successful Public Private Partnership in the country but lamented government’s inability to obey the rule of law.

“We call on the regulatory authorities to honour the Concession Agreement which has been approved by every level of Governnent including the Presidency and confirmed by all the strata of the courts in Nigeria. This is the only way to reward our pioneering efforts”

According to him, government attitude towards private sector participation has not been encouraging to attract more investors adding that only few individuals that love the country were investing with all the risks involved.

Babalakin welcome the idea of government concession of airports if only it will be given due process to ensure sincerity and honesty in the system.

“We are grateful to Allah that our eye opening effort that had led to the upgrading of some airports in Nigeria and the decision of the Federal Government to concession airports in Nigeria, we welcome the idea of concessioning as as its is done properly and in accordance with the Rule of Law.”

While commending airlines making use of the MMA2 facilities Babalakin lamented the death of Chanchangi airline which he said was the first to commence operations at the terminal.