Babalakin lauds Tinubu over 19 years BASL, FG dispute resolution, pledges mass job creation

​The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the historic signing of a settlement agreement that permanently resolves the protracted 19-year legal and commercial impasse surrounding the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos.

Babalakin described the breakthrough as a landmark victory not just for the concessionaire, but for Nigeria’s entire aviation sector and the business landscape.

​Speaking at the official signing ceremony, which brought together the Federal Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Bi-Courtney Limited, and Stabilini Visinoni Limited, the BASL boss expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu and praised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for driving the political will required to seal the deal.

​“This is not a win for us alone; it is a win for all Nigerians,” Babalakin stated, thanking the President, the Aviation Minister, and members of the public who consistently tracked the multi-decade concession tussle.

​He noted that resolving the lingering row sends a strong, reassuring signal to local and international investors that the government and private entities can settle long-standing disputes through dialogue, mutual respect, and constructive engagement.

He emphasised that prolonged regulatory and legal uncertainty undermines long-term capital investments, adding that this resolution will serve as a major confidence booster for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the country.

​With the dispute laid to rest, Babalakin said BASL is now poised to kick-start previously stalled, capital-intensive infrastructure projects at MMA2.

Chief among these are completing the state-of-the-art MMA2 Hotel and Conference Centre and the long-awaited start of regional flight operations.

​Once completed, the hotel and conference facility will elevate the airport precinct to international standards, providing world-class lodging and event hosting for corporate travellers and airport users.

Beyond infrastructure, the project is slated to unlock thousands of direct and indirect jobs across construction, civil engineering, hospitality, facility management, and supply-chain logistics.

​Furthermore, activating regional flight operations at MMA2, paired with the planned apron expansion, will significantly boost commercial activity and create high-skilled jobs across the aviation value chain.

​The comprehensive settlement also resolves long-standing commercial friction points, notably around the operation of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT)—a facility that had remained under FAAN’s control despite earlier contractual provisions.

The new agreement sets out balanced, reciprocal concessions and updated operational obligations, giving all parties a clean slate to move forward in harmony.

​Reaffirming his company’s determination to deliver on its mandate, Babalakin assured aviation authorities and the public that Bi-Courtney will strictly adhere to the settlement terms and collaborate seamlessly with FAAN and the Ministry.

​“We will not disappoint the President, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, FAAN, or the Nigerian people,” Babalakin pledged, reiterating that the agreement ushers in a fresh era of infrastructure delivery, institutional cooperation, and the total realisation of MMA2’s potential

The recent signing focuses on the immediate expansion of the MMA2 Hotel & Conference Centre and the apron, providing a clear path to commence regional passenger operations out of MMA2.