A long-running legal battle between AIC Limited, founded by the late business magnate Harry Akande, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reignited, as FAAN’s N712 billion expansion at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport moves into disputed territory.
The conflict centers on land leased to AIC in 1998 for a proposed flight path hotel and resort. FAAN later reclaimed the land, citing its importance to the airport’s master plan. The dispute has since spanned nearly three decades, with litigation in Nigerian courts and arbitration in London.
In August 2025, AIC’s lawyers issued a fresh warning, accusing FAAN of violating a court order by resuming construction on the land. The letter, dated August 19, urged FAAN to halt all activity or face contempt proceedings. AIC insists that while it supports airport modernization, legal agreements must be respected. A Federal High Court had previously ordered both parties to maintain the status quo.
FAAN has not responded publicly to the latest warning. The agency previously lost an arbitration case in London, where AIC was awarded $48 million in damages. Although a Nigerian court set aside the award, AIC secured enforcement in the UK, where the Court of Appeal upheld the decision in 2020.
Despite these rulings, the legal stalemate persists. With construction continuing on the contested land, the dispute remains unresolved; a symbol of the complexities and delays often seen in Nigeria’s infrastructure development.
