Yemisi Izuora
Some aviation unions in Nigeria have dismissed claims by management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of Murtala Muhammed Domestic Terminal Two (MMA2) that the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) is owing it huge amount of money under the concession agreement entered into on the domestic terminal.
The unions, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and their ally, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) at a world press conference held at the ATSSSAN secretariat, FAAN headquarters revealed that BASL actually owes FAAN over N2billion.
Speaking on behalf of the aviation unions, the Secretary General of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye gave the breakdown of the debts, as follow: Aviation Security – N1, 215,757,045.91, Management Fee – N331, 088,683.68, Fire and Safety – N131, 219,451.83, Marshalling Service – N2, 168,058.21, Electricity – N438, 955,342.20, Rent and SRC Conference – N87, 864,556.06 and Hotel – N116, 845,500.00.
Continuing Abioye said, “Let us pause a minute to analyze, for instance, the so called success story of an aviation (airport) concession, the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) owned and operated by the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) on a concession called Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT)..
“Notwithstanding the yet to be resolved controversy that still trails the number of years the terminal shall be operated before it is handed over to government, are Nigerians aware that the same operator/concessionaire is owing and continues to owe the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) more than Two Billion Naira being various fees for services rendered to it by FAAN, in the following order, which could be challenged and or verified.”
Speaking on why the unions are against proposed concession which they alleged is not transparent to bring any good to nation and the industry in particular, however cautioned to facilitate a meeting that would incorporate the interest of the unions or be ready to face an industrial action that would ground the industry within the next 20 days.
The union added that “until matters such as this are resolved, aviation Unions shall not rest on their oars and allow these shenanigans to continue.”