The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr Wale Babalakin, said the Federal Government and the company would, in the coming days, sign the long-awaited settlement agreement over the concession of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).

Babalakin said that the resolution was a major step towards repositioning the terminal as a regional aviation hub.

A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, BASL, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, said that Babalakin disclosed at the company’s three-day mid-year strategic management retreat themed, ‘Leadership for Total Quality Delivery’.

According to Babalakin, the agreement would mark a new chapter in the two-decade-old concession and provide the platform for BASL to strengthen MMA2’s international profile.

He also lauded President Bola Tinubu for resolving the long-standing issues affecting the concession.

“In the coming days, we will sign the settlement agreement to further position MMA2 internationally and advance our ambition of becoming a leading aviation hub in Africa.

“With this progress comes greater responsibility. We must continue to lead with excellence, strengthen collaboration and build an organisation that inspires pride,” he was quoted.

The proposed agreement follows years of disputes between BASL and the Federal government over the build, operate and transfer (BOT) concession of MMA2, Nigeria’s premier privately funded airport terminal.

The disagreement centred on the interpretation of concession terms, revenue issues and the non-transfer of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which BASL argued formed part of the original concession agreement.

The disputes resulted in several court cases before the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stepped in to resolve the issue.

Commenting on the performance of the company since inception, Babalakin said the terminal operator had demonstrated resilience despite numerous challenges.

He noted that BASL had successfully operated the terminal for almost 20 years, attributing the achievement to competence and integrity.

Babalakin stressed that the company was now focused on establishing MMA2 as the leading airport terminal in the region through continuous improvement and operational excellence.

“Our ambition is clear: to establish and operate the best airport terminal, not only in Nigeria but across the region. This requires honest self-assessment, continuous improvement and sustained commitment to excellence,” he said.

The statement further hinted that the three-day retreat brought together BASL’s senior management and key stakeholders to review the company’s performance, strengthen leadership alignment and chart strategic priorities for the next phase of growth.

Lead Consultant at O’BIA Consulting and facilitator of the retreat, Olubanwo Adeosun, described the exercise as an opportunity for the leadership team to evaluate the company’s current position and align on its future direction.

Also speaking, the Acting Chief Operating Officer and Head of Space and Premises Management, Kola Bamigboye, assured of the commitment of the management team to implementing the resolutions reached during the retreat.

He said: “The focus now is on translating the outcomes of this retreat into deliberate actions, strengthening leadership alignment, improving communication and accountability, and ensuring that the changes we have identified are reflected in how we lead and work across the organisation.

“Going forward, we will be intentional about tracking our progress and sustaining the improvements we have committed to.”

The retreat featured sessions on leadership effectiveness, operational efficiency, service delivery, organisational culture and preparations for regional expansion.