A fresh crisis is looming in Nigeria’s aviation sector as members of the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria have issued a seven-day ultimatum to domestic airlines over unpaid debts exceeding N9bn, raising concerns about possible disruption of flight operations.
The association, which represents major ground handling firms, warned that its members may suspend services if the outstanding payments are not settled within the stipulated period.
In a letter dated April 21, 2026, and addressed to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, the group accused airline operators of failing to meet their financial obligations, a development it said is threatening the operational stability of its members.
The companies affected include Skyway Handling Company of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Butake Handling Company, Precision Handling Company Limited, and Swissport Handling Company.
The letter, jointly signed by AGHAN Chairman, Olaniyi Adigun, and Vice Chairman, Ahmed Bashir, was also copied to key stakeholders, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and heads of relevant aviation agencies.
AGHAN said the mounting debt has placed significant strain on its members, affecting their ability to deliver safe and efficient services.
“This situation has continued to exert pressure on our operational capacity and created financial challenges for both management and staff,” the association stated.
It added that repeated efforts to recover the debts and engage airline operators had yielded little progress, with many payment commitments remaining unfulfilled.
The group warned that failure to resolve the issue within the deadline could force its members to withdraw services, a move that may cripple both domestic and international flight operations.
Ground handling services, including passenger check-in, baggage handling, aircraft marshalling and ramp coordination, are critical to airline operations.
The association apologised to passengers for any inconvenience the looming action may cause, expressing hope for an amicable resolution.
Efforts to get a response from the Airline Operators of Nigeria were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to its spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, were not returned as of the time of filing this report.
