The management of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, has defended the recent 150 per cent increase in parking tariffs, claiming that the decision was driven by operational necessity rather than profit motives.
This was contained in a statement released on Monday after The PUNCH reported what passengers described as an astronomical increase in parking fees.
In the statement, the management explained that the upward review was introduced to tackle persistent congestion at the terminal’s multi-storey car park and to discourage what it described as the growing abuse of the facility by long-term parkers.
“The recent review of the parking tariff at the multi-storey car park was implemented strictly as an operational measure to address severe congestion, discourage long-term vehicle abandonment, and restore parking availability for legitimate airport users,” the statement read.
The operator stressed that MM2 has maintained one of the most consistent safety and security records among airport terminals in the country, attributing this to continuous monitoring, structured access control, and proactive management of facilities, including the car park.
However, it warned that the increasing number of vehicles left for extended periods has placed a significant challenge on operations.
The statement noted that over time, the MSCP has increasingly been converted into a general-purpose parking space by non-airport users, with some vehicles abandoned for days, weeks, months, and, in extreme cases, years.
The management said, “The cost and complexity of maintaining this level of surveillance, safety oversight, and operational control for vehicles left for lengthy periods cannot be sustained. This practice significantly reduces parking availability for passengers and other legitimate terminal users.”
The management further revealed that the congestion has had direct consequences on passengers’ travel plans, adding that the resultant effect has also worsened traffic around drop-off and pick-up zones.
Reiterating the original purpose of the facility, the operator explained that the car park “was designed primarily to support short-term parking for passenger drop-off and pick-up, and not as a long-term storage facility for vehicles.
The operators of the terminal further stressed that continued misuse undermines operational efficiency and denies genuine users access.
Also speaking on security concerns, the management said unattended vehicles pose significant risks, as they complicate monitoring and weaken overall safety measures within the terminal environment.
The management said some abandoned vehicles had already been identified and relocated to a secure holding area to create space. “The revised tariff is therefore aimed at discouraging long-term parking, improving space turnover, and ensuring that parking spaces remain available for passengers and other legitimate terminal users,” the statement added.
Despite public criticism trailing the hike, MM2 maintained that the decision was not revenue-driven but rather “an operational necessity designed to restore order, reduce congestion, and maintain a safe, secure, and efficient terminal environment.”
