Debt Archives - Aviation metric

How mountain of debt is ‘grounding’ Nigeria’s aviation

Posted on October 6, 2026October 6, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Nigeria’s civil aviation ecosystem is locked in a structural debt conundrum. This financial strain stems from a fundamental structural mismatch: revenue is earned locally in Naira, while over 70% of operational costs are denominated in US dollars, writes WOLE SHADARE The structural debt crisis in Nigeria’s civil aviation industry stems from systemic macroeconomic pressures, liquidity bottlenecks, exchange rate volatility, and operational cash flow strains across airline balance sheets. Using Air Peace and XEJet as case…

Ground handlers freeze XEJet operations over N300m unpaid debt, warn other carriers

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Ground handling services for indigenous carrier XEJet Airlines came to a sudden halt on Monday after the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) directed its members to immediately withdraw all ramp support and handling operations over an outstanding debt of about N300 million. The sudden blackout has thrown XEJet’s daily operations into disarray, leaving passenger baggage handling and aircraft ramp services stranded. To cushion the immediate impact, the airline scrambled emergency measures, including diverting…

Ground handlers to suspend services to two major domestic airlines over mounting debt

Posted on September 9, 2026September 9, 2026 by Wole Shadare

The Association of Ground Handling Companies of Nigeria (AGHAN) has issued a stern directive to its member companies to issue a seven-day notice of service suspension to two major domestic airlines over severe, prolonged debt accumulation. Over 70% of the total indebtedness is owed by just two major domestic airlines (names withheld) The sector also carries unrecoverable debts left behind by defunct or suspended airlines like Air Nigeria and Dana Air that shut down operations…

Unions: Growing debt crisis threatens aviation safety

Posted on July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by Wole Shadare

The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has sounded a critical alarm over a growing debt crisis threatening to paralyse Nigeria’s aviation industry. The union warns that massive unpaid liabilities from airlines, operators, and inter-agency defaults are actively compromising the safety, stability, and long-term sustainability of the sector. In a sharply worded statement, ANAP Secretary-General, AbdulRasaq Saidu, revealed that the ballooning debt burden has stripped key aviation agencies of their financial muscle. This severe…