MMA2: Dust Yet To Settle Over BAS Charge

The dust over the N2,500 service charge being collected by Biocourtney Aviation Services (BAS) from passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA 2), Ikeja, Lagos, is still hovering begging for government clarification with a policy statement.

While BAS is insisting that its collection of the amount has ministerial  approval and that it is to defray the increasing cost of operations, the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, is affirming that the Ministry of Aviation has not given any approval to BAS to collect N2,500 as against N1,000 passengers services charge (PSC).

The Biocourtney Aviation Services said it resorted to collecting the charge because some airlines were not remitting the levy that is factored into passengers fees, but the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), has described the charge as unacceptable.

The body said it aligns itself with the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Odua-Ogiemwonyi, who had earlier ordered that the charge be stopped.

President of NATCA, Haske Jubrin, said the collection of the charge has increased the burden of passengers, who grapple with the increasing air fares on the domestic route, urging the terminal operator to abide by the ministerial directive.

Chief  Operations Officer of BAS, Mr Femi Kolawole, in a statement said the company had obtained approval from the various authorities at the airport to charge $15 and N650, a total of N3,000 per ticket since December 22, 2006.