Aviation crisis looms as ANAP threatens showdown over mounting debts
Fresh industrial unrest is looming in Nigeria’s aviation sector as the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has threatened a showdown over the mounting debts owed by airlines and other operators to aviation agencies, warning that the situation is undermining safety oversight, regulatory efficiency and the financial sustainability of the industry.
The union said the huge indebtedness has significantly weakened the finances of key aviation agencies, hampering their ability to meet salary obligations, fund critical safety training, conduct regulatory inspections and maintain operational efficiency, with the potential to disrupt air transport services if urgent intervention is not taken.
In a statement, ANAP Secretary-General, Comrade AbdulRasaq Saidu, said the worsening debt profile has placed enormous financial pressure on aviation agencies, threatening the stability of the sector.
According to him, the situation has already triggered threats of industrial action in agencies including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
He warned that the continued suspension of staff training and other essential safety-related activities due to funding constraints could have serious implications for aviation safety and regulatory compliance.
Saidu acknowledged the difficult operating environment facing domestic airlines but criticised some operators for failing to remit statutory charges collected on behalf of government agencies and for refusing to settle outstanding bills for services rendered.
He cautioned that while airlines may be grappling with financial challenges, withholding statutory revenues due to aviation agencies was unsustainable and could ultimately cripple both the regulatory institutions and the airlines themselves.
The ANAP scribe also expressed concern over the growing incidence of inter-agency indebtedness within the aviation sector, describing it as another major obstacle to effective service delivery and the implementation of improved welfare packages for workers.
He called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting involving aviation agencies, airline operators, labour unions and other industry participants to address the mounting debt crisis and prevent further deterioration.
According to him, only a coordinated and collaborative approach involving all stakeholders can provide a lasting solution capable of safeguarding the safety, stability and sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Saidu stressed that immediate government intervention has become imperative to avert service disruptions, industrial unrest and a broader crisis that could negatively affect air transport operations across the country.
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