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Debt: Foreign Airlines, Companies Owe NAMA Over N67bn

Foreign airlines and other organisations owe the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) more than N67bn in unpaid charges, a debt burden that is deepening the financial strain on the country’s air navigation service provider and threatening industrial peace in the aviation sector.

The mounting debt has emerged as a key factor in the dispute between NAMA and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, with aviation unions warning that the agency cannot remit funds it has not received.

Meanwhile, despite the huge debt, Economic Confidential learnt that international airlines remain the major contributors to NAMA’s revenue, while many domestic airlines have been reluctant to meet their payment obligations.

Economic Confidential gathered that the cumulative debt owed to NAMA by both foreign and domestic airlines, as well as other companies, exceeds N90bn, with domestic airlines identified as the most difficult debtors from whom to recover payments.

Findings from NAMA’s Credit Control Records, an internal document obtained by our correspondent, showed that as of April 30, 2026, the agency was owed N34.69bn in domestic receivables and $49.48m in foreign receivables. At prevailing exchange rates, the combined debt exceeds N67bn.

The revelation comes amid rising tension in the aviation industry following NiMet’s threat to embark on a nationwide industrial action over the alleged non-remittance of its statutory revenue by NAMA.

It was reported last week that the NiMet Unions Joint Action Committee accused NAMA of failing to remit the statutory 10 per cent of en-route and overflight charges due to the agency.

The unions alleged that the non-remittance persisted despite the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

A strike by NiMet workers could have far-reaching consequences for the aviation industry, as the agency’s meteorologists provide the weather briefings and forecasts pilots rely on before take-off and landing. Any disruption to those critical services could significantly affect flight operations nationwide.

But in a letter jointly addressed to the minister, aviation unions defended NAMA, insisting that the agency’s financial challenges were largely caused by huge outstanding debts owed by airlines, government agencies, state governments and corporate organisations.

The letter was jointly signed by the Branch Chairman of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Oluwole Dada; Branch Chairman of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, Afatakpa Patrick; Branch Chairman of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Abah Mathias; and Branch Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Turkur M.

According to the unions, NAMA had continued to make payments to NiMet despite its financial difficulties. The letter read in part, “While we recognize and respect the legitimate rights of every worker and every aviation agency to pursue its welfare within the law, it has become imperative to present the complete financial picture surrounding this issue in order to ensure that the government is fully apprised of the underlying facts.

“Available records indicate that despite NAMA’s severe financial constraints, the Agency has continued to demonstrate good faith by paying approximately N400 million to NiMet between April and June 2026 towards the settlement of its outstanding obligations. This clearly demonstrates NAMA’s commitment to meeting its statutory responsibilities even under extremely difficult financial conditions.

“However, it is important to state that NAMA itself is operating under enormous financial constraints largely because huge statutory revenues due to the Agency remain unpaid by several government agencies, airlines, state governments, corporate organisations and other debtors. Simply put, NAMA cannot reasonably be expected to pay what it has not received.”

Documents obtained further corroborate the unions’ position. The agency’s Credit Control Records stated that “as at 30th April 2026, NAMA is owed over N34.69bn in domestic receivables and approximately US$49.48m in foreign receivables.”

According to the unions, the development showed the growing financial pressure facing the country’s aviation agencies, with concerns mounting that unless the debts are recovered promptly, funding challenges could continue to disrupt critical industry services and fuel further labour unrest across the sector.

When contacted, the spokesperson for NAMA, Abdullahi Musa, confirmed the development but said the agency’s major concern was domestic operators, adding that both the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and NAMA’s commercial and legal departments were handling the debt recovery process.

He said, “Our major debtors are airline operators in Nigeria. The NCAA, Commercial Department, and Legal Department are on top of the situation for debt recovery.”

He added, “Many of the foreign airlines have been paying because IATA stands as their intermediary.” He further stated that the larger chunk of the foreign debts was owed by African airlines, adding that “they behave like domestic airlines.”

Efforts to obtain the minister’s reaction on the issue were unsuccessful. A message seeking clarification on the Federal Government’s plans to address the mounting debts was sent to him, but as of the time of filing this report, he had yet to respond.

Attempts to obtain the reaction of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria on the reasons for not paying charges due to NAMA were also unsuccessful. Calls and text messages sent to the spokesperson for AON, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, were not responded to.