Nigeria Ends 20-Year Airport Dispute, Revenue Flows Again

Nigeria just closed the books on a 20-year dispute that kept one of its busiest airport terminals locked in financial limbo.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will now earn revenue from Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 for the first time since 2003. The breakthrough came after the government and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services signed a historic settlement agreement ending nearly two decades of courtroom battles.

"FAAN had not earned a kobo from MMA2 for the last 20 years because of disputes," said Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo at Tuesday's signing ceremony. President Bola Tinubu's administration approved the framework that made the deal possible.

The conflict started in 2003 when the government granted Bi-Courtney a concession to design, build, and operate the domestic terminal. What began as a 12-year agreement extended to 36 years but quickly spiraled into disagreements over money and responsibilities.

Bi-Courtney claimed the government denied promised benefits. FAAN insisted it needed to protect public assets and collect what it was owed.

The fight got so tangled that even a nearby four-star hotel and conference center sat abandoned for nearly 20 years, becoming what officials called an "eyesore" near the busy airport.

The Ripple Effect

The settlement does more than end the legal headaches. It creates a path forward for both sides to focus on what matters: serving travelers and developing Nigeria's aviation infrastructure.

Under the new terms, both parties agreed to drop all outstanding financial claims against each other. The government keeps control of the older General Aviation Terminal, which had been another point of conflict, while Bi-Courtney gets to expand operations and potentially handle regional African flights from MMA2.

FAAN will now receive regular concession payments that can fund improvements across Nigeria's airport system. The government maintains oversight of security, emergencies, and maintenance standards.

The abandoned hotel and conference center also get a fresh start with restored development rights and new lease agreements. Construction can finally resume on facilities that could serve thousands of travelers.

Minister Keyamo credited sustained negotiations under President Tinubu's leadership for breaking the deadlock. The Federal Executive Council approved the settlement terms in April 2026 after what he described as "difficult negotiations."

Both the government and private sector showed they could put aside decades of grievances to build something better together.