MM2 PARKING HIKE SPARKS OUTRAGE: Travellers Slam N50,000 Overnight Fee as “Economic Insensitivity”

By Olutayo Irantiola 

 A storm of criticism has erupted over the sudden hike in parking fees at the Multi-Storey Car Park of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MM2), with travellers and stakeholders condemning the new N50,000 overnight charge as arbitrary, excessive, and insensitive to prevailing economic realities.

The facility, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) and managed by Balosh, recently increased its overnight parking fee from N6,000 to N50,000, a move that has triggered widespread backlash among airport users who rely on the service for short-term travel.

For many Lagos residents, particularly those living in distant suburbs due to rising housing costs, driving to the airport and parking for a few days had long been a practical and cost-effective alternative. The new pricing regime, however, has effectively priced out average Nigerians, forcing them to reconsider travel plans or resort to expensive transport options.

Analysts say the development comes at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with high inflation, rising fuel prices, and soaring airfares. With the cost of JetA1 pushing ticket prices beyond the reach of many, and petrol prices climbing amid global tensions, the additional burden of parking fees has compounded the financial strain on travellers.

Critics argue that the increase appears to be based on flawed assumptions that anyone who can afford air travel should also be able to shoulder exorbitant ancillary costs.

“This is not just a price review; it is an economic shock,” observers say, noting that a traveller paying about N300,000 for a return ticket could now spend as much as N150,000 on parking for a three-day trip.

Beyond the pricing, concerns have been raised over what some describe as indirect coercion, with travellers being pushed toward costly airport taxi services due to unaffordable parking fees. Allegations of uneven enforcement have also surfaced, with private vehicle owners reportedly targeted more strictly than commercial taxi operators within the airport premises.

The situation has also affected small-scale operators, particularly delivery riders who service restaurants within the airport, as authorities intensify enforcement measures, a development some fear could stifle business activities.

This is not the first time the management firm has faced criticism. In 2021, Balosh’s involvement in managing parking systems at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) sparked controversy, highlighting concerns about the commercialization of essential public services.

In response to the current outcry, calls have been made for urgent government intervention. Stakeholders are urging the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, to review the policy and provide relief for affected travellers.

A proposed solution includes introducing a concessionary system that identifies genuine travellers through boarding passes and offers them reduced parking rates, while addressing cases of misuse separately.

Observers warn that the current policy disproportionately affects Nigeria’s already struggling middle class individuals without access to drivers or alternative transport arrangements and could further erode confidence in the aviation sector.

“There is no moral justification for increasing overnight parking from N6,000 to N50,000,” the author stressed, urging authorities to act swiftly before the policy deepens public frustration.

As the debate intensifies, travellers and industry watchers alike are waiting to see whether regulators will step in or if the controversial N50,000 parking charge will become the new normal at MM2.