The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to correct what it described as a misleading public narrative surrounding recent reports of increased parking charges at Lagos Airport, clarifying that the decision did not originate from its operations.
In a strongly worded response to an opinion article titled “Economic Insensitivity: The Arbitrary Spike in Parking Rate at Lagos Airport”, the agency said the report wrongly attributed the issue to FAAN, creating confusion about responsibility within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
According to FAAN, the parking rate adjustment in question applies strictly to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), a privately operated facility managed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) under a concession agreement.
The authority stressed that it neither manages nor controls commercial decisions at MMA2, including parking tariffs, noting that such decisions fall solely within the purview of the concessionaire.
FAAN further clarified that references to “Lagos Airport” in the article, accompanied by images of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which it operates, created a false impression that the agency was responsible for the pricing decision.
Industry observers said the mix-up highlights a broader misunderstanding of Nigeria’s aviation structure, where multiple operators coexist under different ownership and management frameworks.
While FAAN oversees federal government-owned airports nationwide, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the sector also includes concessioned terminals like MMA2, state-owned airports, and privately managed aerodromes, all regulated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and guided by policies from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The agency warned that misreporting of this nature could have far-reaching implications, including eroding public trust, misdirecting regulatory pressure, and undermining investor confidence in a sector that relies heavily on public-private partnerships.
It added that calls for FAAN or the aviation minister to intervene in pricing decisions at MMA2 reflect a misunderstanding of the legal and operational boundaries governing the industry.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, FAAN urged journalists and analysts to exercise due diligence when reporting on aviation matters, especially given the sector’s sensitivity and complexity.
“As Nigeria continues to modernise its aviation sector, accuracy in public communication is essential”, the agency noted, stressing that accountability must be directed at the appropriate operators.
The clarification underscored the growing importance of precise reporting in shaping public perception, particularly in industries where governance structures are layered and highly specialised.