Aviation

From N6,000 to N50,000: How Bi-Courtney’s Overnight Airport Parking Fee Sparked Nationwide Fury

Published

23 hours ago

May 18, 2026

From N6,000 to N50,000: How Bi-Courtney’s Overnight Airport Parking Fee Sparked Nationwide Fury

LAGOS— Passengers and visitors to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) have continued to fume over a 150 per cent hike in parking fees, describing the increase as excessive and frustrating. Despite growing complaints and calls for a downward review, the facility operator, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) , has insisted there are no plans to reduce the current tariff structure.

In April 2026, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, the company which manages the terminal, took the tariff to stratospheric heights. Under the revised pricing structure, saloon cars now pay N3,500 for the first 60 minutes and N2,500 for each subsequent hour, while Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) pay N4,000 for the first 60 minutes and N2,500 for subsequent hours. For 18-seater buses and above, the flat rate is N20,000, while overnight parking costs N50,000 —a staggering increase from the previous N6,000 rate. Additionally, anyone who loses his or her ticket will pay a penalty fee of N25,000.

The public outcry has been amplified by high-profile complaints. BBNaija star Whitemoney (Hazel Oyeze Onou) recently took to social media to lament a N206,000 parking bill after leaving his car at the Lagos airport for four days, from Friday to Monday. In a viral video, he expressed shock at discovering the new overnight rate and questioned whether the government and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, are aware of these charges.

In another incident that sparked outrage, a female traveller alleged she was charged N11,500 for just two hours of parking at MMA2. In a video that went viral on social media, the visibly distressed woman accused operators of exploiting motorists, saying, “From 8 o’clock to 10, they are charging me N11,500. Look at their cash points. They are charging people, stealing from people. For just 30 minutes, they will collect N3,500.”

One of the visitors, Joe Agbo, who had not known about the fee increase in April, told Daily Sun that he drove to the airport this past week to pick up a family member and was shocked at how much he was expected to pay. He said he drove an SUV and stayed for not less than 20 minutes, and was told he had to pay N4,000. “It is outrageous that this is happening and is not sustainable. Where else are we supposed to park? Why should the company managing this airport make parking so difficult for people?” he queried.

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Agbo further argued that the justification for the hike was insufficient. “From the inquiries I made, I was told that the fees were increased because people were parking overnight. But just because you want to control traffic or maintain decorum does not justify this hike. Already, passengers sometimes pay as much as N200,000 for flight tickets. Many are practically squeezing themselves just to afford a flight ticket. They struggle to afford a flight ticket and also struggle to afford parking. Please, we want a downward review of this fee. It is too high and we cannot afford it. That is a fact,” the airport user said.

Another visitor, Jide Babs, also told the Daily Sun that he had to pick his mother up from the airport but because of a flight delay, he ended up waiting an hour and 10 minutes. When he went to pay the fee, he was told he had to pay N6,500 just for parking and felt it was outrageous. “Many Nigerians are already going through extremely difficult times and it’s not fair that airport managers are still burdening them the most. There are ways to handle the issue of those who park indiscriminately. You can tow their vehicles or impound them. Instead of doing that, the airport managers have chosen to increase the fee by over N150,000. That is not good at all,” he said.

In defence of the new tariffs, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi (also identified as Ajoke Olawoyin), Head of Corporate Communications at BASL, has insisted that the hike is not revenue-driven but rather a “demand-management measure” aimed at restoring the car park to its original short-stay purpose. She explained that the facility, which has a limited capacity of approximately 800 vehicles, had been overwhelmed by long-term parking abuse, with some vehicles left for months and even years.

“We have discovered a misuse of the facility. The facility was designed for short stay parking—come, drop off, pick up and leave—not long-term parking,” Yinka-Olawuyi said. She cited extreme cases where vehicles were abandoned for “three weeks, a week, in some instances six months. In fact in some cases one year.” She noted that prior to the tariff review, the terminal’s car park regularly recorded as many as 300 vehicles parked overnight.

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Regarding the controversial N50,000 overnight fee, she stated that management had considered eliminating overnight parking entirely but found that applying the hourly rate over a 24-hour period would result in charges “significantly higher than 50,000 Naira.” She maintained that the current rate is actually “a more considerate and moderated option.” Crucially, she declared that the tariff would not be reversed, stating: “So will it go down? No, it won’t. Because the moment you take it down, then we’ll go back to where we’re coming from. The problem we’re trying to solve will come back.”

Daily Sun reached out to BASL to know if there are any plans for a downward review of the parking fares, and the Public Relations Officer, Ajoke Olawoyin, said there are no such plans at the moment. She said that adjustments of this nature often generate public reactions, especially initially, and that the parking tariff review was part of a broader operational and infrastructure sustainability initiative aimed at improving traffic efficiency management, parking space turnover, security monitoring, maintenance of the multi-level facility, and overall passenger experience within the terminal environment. The review, she said, also reflected prevailing economic realities and rising operational costs.

“The objective of the review was not revenue-driven. It was designed to address operational concerns, including traffic congestion within the terminal vicinity and the increasing cost of maintaining the facility and related services. Management continues to monitor the impact across these areas. The overall impact of the review is being assessed holistically, including operational efficiency, traffic flow, parking turnover, and customer experience,” she said.

However, critics have slammed the rationale. An editorial in The Guardian described the hike as “punitive and indefensible,” arguing that Bi-Courtney’s approach amounts to “punishing all customers to address the fallout from its poor planning, systemic inefficiencies, and weak regulation.” The newspaper noted that the car park was “shoehorned into a space far less than what a modern airport service facility requires,” and that no motorist is allowed to pick up passengers outside the terminal—everyone is compelled to use the car park, where even a minute’s stay attracts the minimum N3,500 charge.

The editorial has called for the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to intervene, arguing that the “obnoxious review” highlights broader implications for consumer protection and regulatory oversight. It also criticised the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to effectively implement Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, which deals with consumer protection, tariffs, pricing, and economic oversight.

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has also implemented its own fee adjustments, raising toll fees for sedans from N300 to N500 and for SUVs from N500 to N1,000 as part of a broader cashless policy initiative that took effect on March 1, 2026. However, analysts have pointed out that FAAN’s price adjustment “almost peters out into insignificance” compared to Bi-Courtney’s increases.

Despite the backlash, Yinka-Olawuyi claimed that the changes have already yielded positive results, reducing congestion and improving accessibility within the terminal. “We don’t have that congestion anymore. People come in and park… you’re able to find a parking spot easily,” she said. She also apologised to occasional travellers who may have been caught off guard by the sudden change, acknowledging that “if you’re not a frequent flyer, you might not know.”

As outrage continues to grow, including calls for government intervention from celebrities like Whitemoney and ordinary travellers alike, the standoff between airport operators and the travelling public shows no sign of resolution, with BASL firm that the N50,000 overnight parking fee is here to stay.

From N6,000 to N50,000: How Bi-Courtney’s Overnight Airport Parking Fee Sparked Nationwide Fury

Related Topics:Airport Bi-Courtney Featured parking fee

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Airlines Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Jet A1 Fuel Price Surge

Aviation

Airlines Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Jet A1 Fuel Price Surge

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Domestic airlines in Nigeria

Airlines Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Jet A1 Fuel Price Surge

Domestic airlines in Nigeria have warned of a possible nationwide shutdown from Thursday, April 30, 2026, over a deepening aviation fuel crisis, as operators struggle with sharply rising Jet A1 fuel prices and unsustainable operating costs.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) say the planned action may ground all domestic flights if urgent intervention is not provided by the Federal Government, raising fears of widespread disruption to air travel across the country.

Airline operators say the continuous increase in aviation fuel prices in Nigeria has pushed the industry to breaking point. According to them, Jet A1 prices have surged by more than 300% since February, rising from about ₦900 per litre to between ₦2,700 and ₦3,500 in some locations. They explained that fuel now accounts for the largest share of operating expenses, leaving airlines struggling to sustain flight schedules while maintaining safety standards.

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Multiple rounds of negotiations have reportedly been held between airline operators, fuel marketers, and government officials, but no concrete solution has been reached. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, convened a two-day emergency meeting in Abuja aimed at resolving the crisis. Although the government announced a 30% reduction in aviation-related taxes and charges, operators say the measure does not address the core issue of fuel pricing.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria warned that if no urgent action is taken, carriers may be forced to suspend domestic operations nationwide. Industry leaders say airlines are now operating at a loss, with some flights barely covering fuel costs. They also warned that continued operations under current conditions could compromise long-term sustainability in the aviation sector.

The looming shutdown has sparked concerns among passengers who rely heavily on domestic air travel for business, medical emergencies, and intercity movement. Many travellers have already begun exploring alternative transport options as uncertainty grows over possible flight cancellations in Nigeria.

In a formal submission to the Federal Government, the Airline Operators of Nigeria outlined several emergency measures, including the suspension of aviation taxes, fees, and charges for at least six months, the introduction of a non-taxable fuel surcharge system, the establishment of a pricing review committee for aviation fuel, and credit support arrangements between fuel marketers and airlines. Operators argue that these measures are necessary to stabilise the sector and prevent a total shutdown of domestic aviation.

As the Thursday deadline approaches, uncertainty continues to grow within Nigeria’s aviation industry. Airline officials say the situation remains critical, warning that without immediate intervention, domestic air operations could be grounded nationwide.

Airlines Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Jet A1 Fuel Price Surge

Aviation

FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

Published

2 months ago

March 6, 2026

Trends Admin

FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced a temporary hybrid toll payment system at airports nationwide following heavy traffic congestion caused by the rollout of its cashless toll payment policy. The move comes after President Bola Tinubu directed the authority to ease implementation challenges to prevent travel disruptions.

FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, told journalists in Lagos on Thursday that the decision followed severe gridlock at major airport toll gates, particularly Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as motorists struggled to adapt to fully digital payment methods. “He [the President] saw the traffic congestion and directed us to temporarily revert to a hybrid approach,” Kuku said. “This ensures smoother access while we refine the cashless system — it is a win for the industry.”

The hybrid model allows commuters and travellers to pay tolls using a combination of cash, prepaid FAAN cards, e-tags, debit cards, and other electronic options. Kuku emphasized that the arrangement will let FAAN continue its digital payment initiative while still accommodating users who have yet to register or activate electronic payment channels.

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She highlighted that the authority had registered over 100,000 users on its cashless platform between October 2025 and March 3, 2026, with around 60,000 sign-ups occurring in the final three days before the March 1 rollout deadline. The technology reportedly achieved a 99% success rate during initial operations, demonstrating strong potential for adoption once operational challenges are addressed.

Kuku explained that the initial rollout lacked a comprehensive pilot phase due to the pressure to meet the government’s deadline. The additional time granted by the Presidency now serves as an extended pilot period, enabling FAAN to raise public awareness, onboard private technology partners, and enhance monitoring mechanisms to prevent revenue leakages while cash payments are still allowed.

The MD noted that no new deadline has been set for the complete elimination of cash payments. The focus now is on refining the system, ensuring user convenience, and achieving a smooth transition to a fully digital tolling platform in line with global best practices in airport infrastructure management.

FAAN said the hybrid arrangement aims to prevent delays that could cause passengers to miss flights, while also maintaining transparency in revenue collection and improving overall airport operational efficiency.

FAAN Introduces Hybrid Toll Payment System Following Tinubu’s Directive

Aviation

FCCPC Finds Evidence of Airfare Manipulation by Domestic Airlines

Published

3 months ago

February 27, 2026

Trends Admin

FCCPC Finds Evidence of Airfare Manipulation by Domestic Airlines

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has uncovered credible evidence of airfare manipulation by domestic airlines in Nigeria, revealing that some carriers may have artificially inflated ticket prices during the December 2025 festive travel season beyond what market forces would justify. In an interim report released on Thursday, the FCCPC said its extensive forensic review of airfare data collected directly from airlines across key domestic routes shows striking irregularities in pricing patterns that appear inconsistent with normal seasonal demand, fuel costs, foreign exchange movements, or other operational variables.

The review by the Commission’s Surveillance and Investigations Department, led by Director of Corporate Affairs Ondaje Ijagwu, compared peak-season fares in December 2025 against ticket prices in the post-holiday period of January 2026. In many cases — notably on high-traffic corridors such as Abuja–Port Harcourt, Lagos–Calabar, and Lagos–Enugu — the difference in fares reached as high as ₦405,000 for a single ticket, even though essential cost drivers remained relatively stable. “These fare differences appear to reflect airlines’ arbitrary pricing decisions, yield management strategies, and capacity allocation practices rather than any variation in regulated fees or significant changes in operating conditions,” Ijagwu said, suggesting that multiple domestic carriers might have engaged in tacit coordination rather than true competition.

The report also showed that during the peak period, reduced seat availability paired with clustered price ranges across multiple operators raised further competition concerns, lending weight to potential violations of Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. The interim findings flagged possible breaches of provisions governing restraint of competition, abuse of dominant positions, price-fixing, conspiracy, unfair contract terms, and consumers’ right to fair dealings — signalling that airlines may have breached multiple competition and consumer protection rules.

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The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) swiftly pushed back against the FCCPC’s report. AON spokesman Prof. Obiora Okonkwo said the Commission lacks the specialised expertise to analyse aviation pricing, warning that the probe could harm Nigeria’s fragile airline sector. “They don’t understand the economics of airlines or how ticket prices are set based on yield, load factors, aircraft utilisation and revenue management systems,” Okonkwo said. “This action is very detrimental to the survival of domestic operators.”

Independent aviation analysts in Nigeria say pricing behaviour in the sector has long lacked transparency. Dr. Uche Okoro, a transport economist, told news editors that while peak-season travel normally pushes fares up, the consistency of spikes across multiple airlines on the same dates and routes — even where there was no significant change in fuel or exchange rates — suggests coordinated pricing behaviour. “Market competition should push airlines to differentiate prices based on service levels and actual costs,” Okoro said. “When several carriers raise prices almost in unison, especially on predictable peak travel dates, it warrants scrutiny.”

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) acknowledged the FCCPC’s interim report and pledged to support the broader probe, noting that the aviation sector must balance airline financial sustainability with fair market practices. An NCAA spokesperson said: “We are engaging with the FCCPC and industry stakeholders to promote a transparent pricing environment. While airlines need to remain viable, consumers must also be protected from exploitative fare regimes.” The NCAA emphasised that factors such as fleet size limits, airport slot restrictions, seasonal demand patterns, and infrastructure capacity do affect pricing, but agreed that unusually steep price spikes merit investigation.

According to the FCCPC, the route-by-route analysis showed that on Abuja–Port Harcourt, average peak-period fares were far higher than post-peak levels, with many tickets in December priced well above the typical seasonal range. On Lagos–Calabar and Lagos–Enugu, similar patterns of clustered fare bands across airlines suggested pricing behaviour broadly aligned among competitors rather than differentiated by market forces. Across sampled routes, median fares during the festive period were significantly elevated compared with post-peak benchmarks, despite stable fuel price trends, unchanged airport taxes, and no major exchange rate shocks. The FCCPC noted that while predictable seasonal demand surges can justify higher fares, the magnitude and pattern of the increases observed in December 2025 are not fully explained by ordinary market conditions.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Tunji Bello stressed that the interim report is not an enforcement action, but a step toward deeper investigation. “The Commission’s role is to ensure that market outcomes reflect competition and consumer protection principles,” he said, adding that full findings and possible enforcement measures will follow after the ongoing review. Bello also signalled that foreign airlines operating international routes involving Nigeria will soon be probed, following complaints that Nigerian passengers are often charged significantly higher fares on similar international distances. “No operator — domestic or foreign — will be shielded if evidence confirms fare-fixing or consumer exploitation,” Bello said. The FCCPC has asked both airlines and consumers to assist in the investigation by providing additional data, while warning airlines that violations of the FCCPA could result in regulatory sanctions, fines, or mandatory corrective orders once the full review is concluded.