The director-general of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalefoh, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for resolving the long-running concession dispute over the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Sunday, Ewalefoh said the resolution sends “a strong signal” to both local and international investors that Nigeria remains a credible and reliable investment destination.
He stressed that respect for contractual agreements is critical to building investor confidence, as it guarantees a stable and predictable regulatory environment.
The ICRC boss described the president’s intervention as a “masterstroke”, noting that it successfully ended a dispute that had persisted across multiple administrations.
Ewalefoh said the resolution followed a coordinated process involving the ministry of aviation and aerospace development, the concessionaire, and the ICRC, in line with established public-private partnership (PPP) guidelines.
“With the removal of restrictive provisions and the restoration of clarity within the concession framework, Nigeria can now fully explore the development of new aviation infrastructure within Lagos State, including projects such as the proposed Lekki Airport, as well as complementary commercial and support facilities around existing terminals,” he said.
He added that resolving the dispute demonstrates the government’s commitment to tackling complex issues while maintaining regulatory certainty.
“When investors see that a dispute of this magnitude can be resolved through a balanced and forward-looking approach, it sends a powerful message about policy stability, regulatory certainty, and respect for agreements,” Ewalefoh said.
“These are the foundations upon which successful PPPs are built.”
‘Resolution Will Deliver Tangible Benefits’
Ewalefoh said the outcome of the settlement would yield tangible benefits for both the economy and the public, including improved infrastructure utilisation, enhanced operational efficiency, and increased revenue potential.
He also commended Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, along with other stakeholders, for their roles in resolving the dispute.
The ICRC DG reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring that PPP arrangements are implemented in line with established guidelines, with a focus on transparency, value for money, and public interest.
“The ICRC will continue to provide the regulatory guidance required to sustain this momentum, ensuring that future concessions are better structured, better managed, and better aligned with national development priorities,” he said.
Background
The federal government had, on April 30, approved a comprehensive settlement of a 20-year dispute with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited over MMA2.
As part of the agreement, regional flight operations have been moved to the terminal, allowing airlines to begin operating regional routes from the facility.
