According to the latest House of Representatives update from the National Library Trust Fund in Nigeria, the House Committee on Finance has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to recover N18.98 billion in outstanding debts from foreign airlines within two weeks.
The directive was issued during a revenue monitoring session reviewing the financial performance of government agencies between 2023 and 2025. The debts relate to statutory airport charges, including landing and parking fees, navigation charges and passenger service charges.
Several international carriers were identified in the debt profile, including Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir and Air France, alongside several others.
The Committee raised concerns over the accumulation of these debts, noting that foreign airlines had exceeded the standard two-week payment window, while domestic operators are typically subject to stricter enforcement measures.
FAAN has been instructed to recover the full amount within the specified timeframe and provide detailed documentation on all debtor airlines. Lawmakers also indicated that defaulting airlines could be summoned if payments are not made and queried whether interest should be applied to overdue balances.
In response, FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku stated that the debt figures represent a rolling balance, influenced by ongoing billing and settlements, and noted that some delays are linked to international clearing processes. She also highlighted recent measures, including the introduction of a cashless system at airport access gates, aimed at improving transparency and reducing revenue leakages.
As the two-week deadline set by the House Committee on Finance approaches, further updates are expected on FAAN’s progress in recovering the outstanding amounts.
