MMA2, intrigues, challenges, success at ten
By Wole Shadare
Tomorrow, May 7, 2017, Nigeria’s best run terminal, Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) will be ten. It is ten years of remarkable excellence; one that shows resilience and determination of the promoters that Nigerians can indeed live up to the billing when the chips are down.
The MMA2 is a clear case of resilience to bequeath to Nigeria, aviation infrastructure that many have accepted that is best run and world class by every
standard.
It would be recalled that BASL came second in the bid for the construction of the domestic terminal which was gutted by fire. Royal Sanderton had won the bid but inexplicably could not commence work on site. That handed the job to BASL as the second preferred bidder on a platter.
Royal Sanderton’s failure was BASL’s gain as the later mobilised resources to site and completed the reported N35 billion project that immediately transformed the aviation infrastructure landscape and one that serves as model to other terminals in the country.
For a long time before now, it was difficult for the government at all levels to allow the private sector participate in infrastructure provision and maintenance, despite its glaring inability to provide such facilities and make them efficient for the populace.
This was due partly to the “strangeness” of Public-Private Participation (PPP) to the government, which officials lack the knowledge on how the policy works.
The situation was worsened, as the country’s population rose geometrically, thereby regrettably exerting pressure on the available infrastructure, even as lack of maintenance culture, among others, compounded the already precarious situation.
But, the story changed as soon as the government, especially at the federal and state levels, realised that it lacked the financial wherewithal and the technical competence to provide all what the people need.
This actually led to the decision of those in authority at these levels to allow some players in the private sector to take over the provision of some critical, strategic and capital-intensive infrastructure and the then Murtala Muhammed Airport (Local Wing) instructively fell into this category.
This was due partly to the “strangeness” of Public-Private Participation (PPP) to the government, which officials lack the knowledge on how the policy works.
The situation was worsened, as the country’s population rose geometrically, thereby regrettably exerting pressure on the available infrastructure, even as lack of maintenance culture, among others, compounded the already precarious situation.
But, the story changed as soon as the government, especially at the federal and state levels, realised that it lacked the financial wherewithal and the technical competence to provide all what the people need.
This actually led to the decision of those in authority at these levels to allow some players in the private sector to take over the provision of some critical, strategic and capital-intensive infrastructure and the then Murtala Muhammed Airport (Local Wing) instructively fell into this category.
As a young reporter on the aviation beat, I recollect the unimpressive, ramshackle structure that was referred to as the Local Wing then, which was already begging for attention before the intervention of BASL. A fiery fire had razed the entire old structure.
Consequently, this made the Federal Government to immediately concession it to Bi-Courtney under the Public-Private Partnership (PP), based on the belief that it has the financial and technical capacity and capability to bring the required revolution to domestic flight operations in the country by building the best terminal ever.
The terminal, concessioned to the firm for 36 years on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis, was inaugurated on April 7, 2007 for exclusive facilitation of domestic air passengers leaving or arriving in Lagos.
It is the first BOT project in the area of infrastructure that has been completed successfully by a Nigerian company. And since it came on stream, I have observed shockingly that unlike many public infrastructure in the country that cannot run efficiently for more than two years, MMA2 has been running for ten solid years without any incident. Many refer to it as PPP magic.
The terminal, concessioned to the firm for 36 years on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis, was inaugurated on April 7, 2007 for exclusive facilitation of domestic air passengers leaving or arriving in Lagos.
It is the first BOT project in the area of infrastructure that has been completed successfully by a Nigerian company. And since it came on stream, I have observed shockingly that unlike many public infrastructure in the country that cannot run efficiently for more than two years, MMA2 has been running for ten solid years without any incident. Many refer to it as PPP magic.
As a regular user of the facility, I’m thrilled each time I pass through MMA2 on my several and frequent trips in and out of Lagos.
The terminal has received several accolades for the over N50 billion it has invested in new equipment like frequent changing of escalators, provision of self-check-in kiosks that make air travel very seamless. The operators also invested heavily to prepare the terminal for regional operations which it has permission to do.
MMA2 emerged the best Airport Terminal in Nigeria. This was contained in a recent survey by Phillips Consulting.
In the area of airport experience and most frequented airports, MMA2 scored 43%; with Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, scoring 21%, followed by the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos with 14%, while Port Harcourt International Airport had 10%.
In terms of accessibility, including adequacy of parking facilities, customers of Benin Airport and MMA2 expressed the highest levels of satisfaction, rating the terminals 64.00% and 63.33% respectively. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja scored 51.11%.
On Ground transport to and from airport, frequent users of Benin Airport and MMA2 emerged the most satisfied, with scores of 63.03% and 62.17% respectively.
Other criteria include shuttle services to/from aircraft and availability of baggage carts and trolleys. In this regard, customers of the six airports provided lukewarm scores, indicating that trolleys are either not readily available to passengers or are in poor condition. Only MMA2 received a score above 60%.
The latest ranking came on the heels of other commendations and accolades BASL/MMA2 has received in the recent past, including being adjudged the number one airport terminal in 2015 by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka was so impressed with MMA2 that he publicly declared that it ranks amongst the best he had seen. No wonder he was very sympathetic to the treatment Chairman of BASL, Dr. Wale Babalakin was subjected to by his predecessor who did not hide her disdain for MMA2.
BASL was object of vicious attack by some former Ministers of Aviation over concession tenure which until now was contentious.
Over the years, selections and deals were signed. The Private Public Partnership (PPP) for the terminal of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (Domestic) MMA2 was one of them. The parties seemed happy. FAAN appeared to have started good deals with its concessionaires, Maevis Ltd and then with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).
Following a change of government, however, the song and dance, promptly, changed. Arbitration panels and the courts were thrown into the mix.
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