The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced it has suspended services at the airports of Warri/Osubi and Gombe as well as Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) from 0000L Sunday, December 9, 2018, until further notice.
A NOTAM issued on Saturday, December 8, 2018, said FAAN had withheld aviation security (AVSEC), firefighting and rescue services from each of the affected airfields and terminals effectively shutting them down.
According to the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), FAAN says it took the measure to recover the NGN3.9 billion naira (USD10.7 million) it is owed for services delivered since it commenced operations on September 8, 2007.
FAAN said the money was for the provision of electricity, rentals, the use of conference and hotel facilities, and a 5% remittance as agreed to in its contract.
In a letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BiCourtney Aviation Services Ltd., the firm tasked with running MMA2, sent last month, FAAN said that as of July 31, 2018, it was owed NGN1.4 billion (USD3.9 million) for the provision of AVSEC services, NGN143 million (USD393,000) for fire/safety costs, NGN2.1 million (USD5,800) for marshalling, and NGN1.9billion (USD5.2 million) for management costs.
FAAN's withholding of services has forced multiple Nigerian carriers to modify their respective operations. Arik Air (W3, Lagos) said in a statement that effective December 10, it had suspended all flights to Osubi and Gombe with affected passengers requested to use Benin City Airport and Bauchi as alternatives in the meantime. Flights from Lagos MMA2 to Port Harcourt Awolowo will also be moved to Lagos Terminal 1 otherwise known as General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
“The airline hopes the issue between FAAN and the airport authorities will be resolved soonest,” a spokesman said.
Aero Contractors (N2, Lagos) is also affected by the withdrawal but has yet to publically announce what precautionary measures it has taken.
