MMA2 Parking Hike Not Revenue-Driven, Aimed at Curbing Abuse — Airport Management

The recent hike in parking fees at Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) has understandably sparked public outcry. However, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, the airport management, insists this is not a revenue-grabbing scheme but a necessary measure to address systemic misuse of the facility. Their argument centers on restoring the car park to its intended function as a short-stay area, a purpose that has been undermined by motorists treating it as a long-term storage lot.

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The whole essence of this is not revenue. It is to reinstate and restore the facility back to the purpose that it was intended for, which is short-stay parking, to make accessibility into the terminal.

According to Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi, Head of Corporate Communications, the situation had become untenable, with vehicles being abandoned for months, even up to a year. This not only obstructs legitimate short-term users but also creates significant traffic congestion, particularly at the drop-off zone, hindering passenger access. The management views this as a 'demand management measure' to ensure the car park serves its primary purpose and enhances the overall passenger experience, which has been their focus for nearly 19 years of operation.

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It is not a garage. In some cases, one year — they abandon the cars there.

While the public's frustration with increased costs is valid, the management's perspective highlights a common urban challenge: managing limited resources and preventing abuse. From the airport's viewpoint, the decision is about operational efficiency and maintaining a functional environment for travelers. The key issue is balancing the need for revenue with the imperative to provide accessible and efficient services. The management's stance suggests that without this intervention, the car park's utility would continue to degrade, impacting passenger flow and potentially safety. The focus remains on ensuring MMA2 operates as a seamless and secure hub, which they argue necessitates this unpopular but, in their view, essential tariff adjustment.

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This thing even extends and creates a gridlock on our drop-off zone. People even want to drop off — you don’t want to come into the car park, you can drop off and just walk in and your driver drives away from the airport. But to get to that drop-off zone becomes really difficult.