FAAN warns MMA2, Gombe Airport, two others to pay their debts or risk being shut

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued a notice to private and state-owned airports in Nigeria to settle their debts or be shut on May 1.

General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the development to Newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

Reports show that the indebted airports include the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited; as well as Gombe, Kebbi, and Bebi (in Cross River State) airports.

FAAN said it had earlier sent a notice of ‘intention to sanction’ to the operators of the affected airports to settle their debts on or before April 24.

The agency said it had, however, added another seven days’ grace till April 30 for all outstanding debts to be settled.

It said, “The authority shall be constrained to commence the implementation of sanctions at the expiration of this notice if the organisations fail or refuse to pay up as advised.

“In view of the above, the authority hereby notifies private airport operators that the services of our Aviation Security and Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel will no longer be available for the operations of their airports with effect from May 1.”

The agency noted that it could no longer keep this personnel at the airports working without payment.

FAAN had claimed that the MMA2 was indebted to it to the tune of N3.9bn since it began operations on September 8, 2007.

It claimed the money was for the provision of electricity, rent and conference and hotel, and the five per cent remittance as agreed in the contract.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of BASL in November 2018, FAAN gave the breakdown of the indebtedness as at July 31, 2018, as N1.4bn for provision of Aviation Security.

It said another N143m was for fire/safety cost, N2.1m for marshaling and N1.9bn for management cost.

Similarly, FAAN had also issued similar threats to Gombe, Kebbi and Bebi airports.

It said, “This action has become imperative as the management of Gombe Airport is indebted to the authority to the tune of N607. 9m, while Kebbi and Bebi airports are indebted to the tune of N124.5m million and N76.8m respectively.”

Credit: Punch