Liquidity Crunch: Nine domestic debtors owe NAMA ₦31.2bn as foreign debt surpasses $49m

• Unions say debts weaken agency’s liquidity, petition Minister over NiMet planned strike

The Joint In-House Unions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have petitioned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over a looming industrial action threatened by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Warning that the aviation ecosystem is on the brink of a systemic crisis, the unions, comprising Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) revealed that NAMA is currently battling a crippling liquidity squeeze.

This is primarily driven by a massive ₦34.69 billion domestic debt and a foreign receivable profile exceeding $49.48 million.

According to NAMA’s Credit Control records as of April 30, 2026, just nine major domestic debtors account for ₦31.203 billion of the agency’s total local receivables.

More specifically, nine major domestic debtors alone owe NAMA ₦31.203 billion, namely the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN –₦23.938 billion), NAPIMS (Osubi Airport ₦2.051 billion), Arik Air-₦2.265 billion,   Aero Contractors-  ₦1.071 billion-Bauchi State Government.

Others are Ogun State Government – ₦ 465.146 million, Jalingo/Taraba State – ₦ 309.345 million, Merry Aviation – ₦ 143.376 million, and ExxonMobil – ₦ 58.455 million.

On the international front, documents made available to Aviation Metric indicate that major foreign airline operators owe NAMA over $21.84 million, pushing the agency’s total foreign debtor exposure past the $49 million mark.

The unions’ petition stems from a strike threat issued by NiMet over outstanding financial obligations owed to it by NAMA.

While acknowledging the legitimate rights of NiMet workers to agitate for their welfare, the unions argued that NAMA has acted in good faith despite its severe financial constraints. Between April and June 2026, NAMA remitted approximately ₦400 million to NiMet.

In a joint statement signed by ATSSSAN Branch Chairman Oluwole Dada Patrick, AUPCTRE Chairman Abah Mathias, and Tukur M.S.A., the unions stated:

“This clearly demonstrates NAMA’s commitment to meeting its statutory responsibilities even under extremely difficult financial conditions. However, NAMA itself is operating under enormous financial constraints largely because huge statutory revenues remain unpaid by sister agencies, airlines, and state governments. Simply put, NAMA cannot reasonably be expected to pay what it has not received.”

Compounding NAMA’s financial woes is the non-remittance of its statutory share of the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The unions noted that this vital revenue stream has been withheld for the past four months.

“The continued withholding of this statutory revenue, coupled with the huge outstanding debts, has placed an unjustifiable financial burden on an agency responsible for providing 24-hour air traffic management, communication, navigation, surveillance, and search-and-rescue support across Nigerian airspace,” the statement read.

The unions cautioned that starving an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) of funds extends beyond simple balance sheets—it directly threatens national security, economic stability, and air safety.

“The aviation industry operates as one integrated system. Every aviation agency depends on the financial stability of the others. Addressing only one aspect of the financial chain without resolving the underlying indebtedness to NAMA merely transfers the problem rather than solving it.”

They warned that any disruption to air navigation services would paralyse domestic and international flight operations, hit business logistics, and damage the broader Nigerian economy.

To avert an industry-wide shutdown, the Joint Unions have urged Minister Keyamo to intervene immediately by ordering all government agencies, airlines, corporate organisations, and state governments to immediately liquidate their verified outstanding debts to NAMA, instructing the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately release NAMA’s outstanding share of the 5% Ticket Sales Charge withheld over the last four months.

They equally called for the convening of an emergency stakeholders’ meeting involving the Ministries of Aviation and Finance, NCAA, FAAN, NiMet, and NAMA to establish a permanent, sustainable inter-agency debt recovery mechanism.

Wole Shadare