Nigeria Orders Airlines to Set Repayment Plans for Aviation Debt

Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed airline operators to agree on realistic repayment plans for outstanding statutory charges within one week, following an emergency meeting aimed at resolving a dispute that disrupted flight operations earlier this week. The meeting, held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, brought together airline operators, aviation unions, and heads of aviation agencies to address grievances that had led to industrial action.

The resolution comes after aviation unions temporarily suspended their protest on Tuesday, August 11, which had targeted Air Peace operations at Lagos and Abuja airports, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The unions had alleged that domestic airlines owed aviation agencies more than 25 billion naira in outstanding Ticket Sales Charge payments, with Air Peace accounting for more than 17 billion naira of that amount. They also raised concerns about workers' freedom to join trade unions.

Under the agreements reached, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and other aviation agencies will obtain payment schedules from airlines with outstanding obligations. The repayment plans must be spread...