MMA2: Bi-Courtney Seeks Tax Relief as Model PPP Airport Attracts Global Interest

Nearly two decades after it was established as Nigeria’s first privately funded airport terminal under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos is being hailed as a benchmark for infrastructure delivery. Its operators are now calling for urgent policy reforms, including tax reliefs, to sustain and replicate the model across the country.

In an exclusive interview, , Mr. Kola Bamigboye, Acting Chief Operating Officer and Head of Space & Premises at Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), said the terminal’s success has drawn both international interest and legislative scrutiny, reinforcing its viability as a template for PPP projects in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

“We’ve shown the right path to conduct this model,” Bamigboye stated. “We have grown from strength to strength for nearly two decades, expanding capacity across infrastructure, systems, and human capital, while maintaining global operational standards.”

He noted that MMA2’s operational success has attracted attention beyond Nigeria’s borders, citing a fact-finding visit by a delegation from Sierra Leone as far back as 2014. “We were a case study, and that gave us a lot of pride,” he said.

Bamigboye added that the terminal has also come under the spotlight of federal lawmakers, following recent engagements with the House of Representatives Committee on PPP Concessions. He identified tax relief for PPP operators as a key recommendation emerging from those discussions.

“Government can provide a concession period , say three years where investors are not required to pay into government coffers, allowing them to stabilise and grow their businesses,” he explained.

He further called for the revival of incentive schemes such as the pioneer status previously administered by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), along with improved access to financing through institutions like the Bank of Industry.