Nigeria aviation infrastructure and legal developments

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has initiated several projects and legal resolutions to modernize the nation’s aviation sector.

In Abuja, a N10 billion inflight catering facility was commissioned at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to supply international flights, following a federal directive for airlines to use local catering services. In Lagos, plans were approved for a new monorail to connect the Ikeja Railway Station to Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

A significant legal impasse regarding the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) concession in Lagos has been resolved through a negotiated settlement involving the Federal Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Bi-Courtney Limited, and Stabilini Visinoni Limited. The dispute, which lasted between 18 and 20 years, was settled following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and Minister Keyamo.

Under the approved framework, FAAN will resume collecting concession fees that had been halted due to litigation. In a reciprocal arrangement, Bi-Courtney will waive all outstanding claims against the government, while the government will release specified historical claims against the concessionaire. The resolution also confirms that the General Aviation Terminal belongs to the Federal Government and will be operated by FAAN. This settlement is expected to boost investor confidence and facilitate the completion of previously abandoned hotel and conference center projects, as well as the commencement of regional flight operations.