Domestic and international flight operations across Nigeria are expected to face total disruption starting Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has issued a final ultimatum to indigenous airlines over an outstanding debt exceeding N9 billion.

AGHAN, the umbrella body for the nation’s five major handling companies—NAHCO, SAHCO, Butake, Precision, and Swissport—warned that its members can no longer sustain operations under the current financial strain.

Read also: Aviation costs unsustainable despite debt relief, CPPE warns

These companies provide critical services, including passenger check-in, baggage handling, aircraft marshalling, and refuelling coordination.

Related News

In a letter dated April 21, 2026, and addressed to Olaniyi Adigun, the President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), AGHAN Chairman, and
Ahmed Bashir, vice chairman, cited “significant pressure on operational capacity” and “unmet payment commitments” as the drivers for the planned withdrawal of services.

The notice has been sent to key stakeholders, including the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of Civil Aviation (NCAA), and the heads of FAAN, the DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force.

“To safeguard the continued viability of our members’ operations, we are constrained to withdraw services should these outstanding debts remain unresolved within seven days,” the letter stated. The deadline expires tomorrow.

Read also: Sofema partners Eastwing Aviation Institute to expand EASA-compliant training for Nigerians

While AGHAN expressed hope for a swift resolution to avoid a total industry shutdown, the association apologized to travelers for the impending inconvenience, emphasizing that the survival of the ground handling sub-sector is at stake.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date

Open In Whatsapp