By Our Reporter
The House of Representatives Nigeria has given the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) two weeks to recover about ₦19 billion owed to the Federal Government by foreign airlines operating in the country.
The directive was issued on Tuesday by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Abiodun Faleke, during an investigative hearing on revenue monitoring between 2023 and 2025.
Faleke asked FAAN to report any challenges in recovering the debt, warning that airlines that fail to settle their obligations will be summoned by the House to explain their actions.
He also questioned why FAAN had not grounded any indebted airline, noting that Nigerian airlines operating abroad would face similar sanctions if they failed to pay their debts.
FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku told lawmakers that the debt varies periodically, although aviation rules require airlines to pay within two weeks.
According to her, the debts include ₦1.16 billion owed by Qatar Airways, ₦1.5 billion by Lufthansa, ₦476 million by British Airways, ₦1.357 billion by Virgin Atlantic, ₦1.252 billion by KLM, ₦1.1 billion by EgyptAir, ₦1.127 billion by Ethiopian Airlines, ₦1 billion by Air France, ₦940 million by Royal Air Maroc, ₦845 million by Turkish Airlines and ₦746 million by Africa World Airlines.
Kuku explained that part of the delay is linked to reconciliation processes with the International Air Transport Association, adding that most of the debts range between one and 90 days.
Lawmakers also questioned FAAN for allowing some airlines to pay their debts in instalments beyond the legally permitted two-week period.