TheCable

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has given a 30-day final demand notice to debtor airlines, both private and state-owned, to settle all debts owed to the agency.

NAN reports that Khalid Emele, the agency’s general manager for public affairs, issued the ultimatum in a statement released on Sunday.

Emele said the agency would not hesitate to withdraw its services to any airline or airport that refused to settle their indebtedness before the expiration period.

He explained that the demand notice, which expires on February 28, expected all debtors to settle their indebtedness or risk sanctions.

The general manager said that the affected debtors had earlier been communicated with details of their indebtedness to NAMA, but have made no tangible effort to pay.

“NAMA hereby notifies debtors, private/state-owned airport operators and airlines that effective Feb. 28, 2020, our services will no longer be available for the operation of their airports or airlines,” he said.

According to him, the agency can no longer keep its personnel working at airports without payment.

He said that in the meantime, the affected debtors if in doubt had been advised to liaise with the Commercial Department of NAMA for reconciliation and/or clarification within the stipulated grace period.

In 2018, NAMA had said it had outstanding collections of N4 billion. It said some of the loans have gone bad as some of the debtor airlines have gone out of business.

Featured image: Fola Akinkuoto, director-general of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)