Aviation ground handlers issue May 6 deadline over airlines’ debts

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria has issued a final three-day ultimatum to domestic airlines over unpaid debts, warning that services will be withdrawn from May 6 if the obligations remain unsettled.
Ground handlers, who provide critical support services to aircraft on the ground, said the continued non-payment has pushed their members to the brink, threatening operational stability across airports.
In a notice dated April 30 and addressed to the President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, the association lamented the silence from airline operators despite earlier engagements.
The letter, jointly signed by AGHAN Chairman, Olaniyi Adigun, and Vice-Chairman, Ahmed Bashir, said no commitment or concrete action had been received from the airlines regarding the outstanding liabilities.
The association noted that the lack of response had worsened the financial strain on its members, who it said had made repeated good faith efforts to resolve the impasse without success.
It warned that failure to comply within the three-day window would lead to a total withdrawal of services to indebted airlines, alongside legal steps to recover the debts.
AGHAN explained that the ultimatum, initially set to begin on May 1, was shifted in observance of Workers’ Day, with the new deadline running from May 4 to May 6.
Despite the hard stance, the association maintained that it remains open to immediate dialogue to avert disruption within the aviation sector.
It added that key stakeholders, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and heads of relevant regulatory and security agencies, had been copied on the notice due to the potential national implications.
The development comes amid mounting tension in the aviation industry, following recent threats by airline operators to suspend operations over rising aviation fuel costs.
It also follows the Federal Government’s approval of a 30 per cent discount on debts owed by airlines to aviation agencies, aimed at easing financial pressure on the sector.