By Dickson Omobola

Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria, AGHAN, has directed members to withdraw ground handling services from XEJet Airlines over outstanding debts of about N300 million.

The association said the decision followed the airline’s alleged failure to honour agreed payment plans despite repeated efforts by its members to recover the outstanding debts.

President of AGHAN, Olaniyi Adigun, and Vice President, Bashir Ahmed, in a statement, said while several indigenous airlines had complied with payment arrangements, XEJet had not done so.

They stated that they would continue to withhold services from the airline until its outstanding obligations were settled, and warned that they would take similar action against any airline that failed to honour agreed payment plans.

The statement read in part: “We decided to direct our members to withdraw services from XEJet Airlines because it has over time, failed to meet up with its payment plans. Our members have made every effort to ensure that the airline complied, but its management has been recalcitrant.

“We can’t continue to operate like this. Why are some companies not willing to pay for services rendered to them? This is intentional. It is affecting our members at all cadres. We need to increase our equipment, while also boosting the welfare of our staff, but we can’t do this when some organisations are not willing to pay for services rendered to them.

“As it stands, the company owes our members about N300 million. Hence, we have instructed our members to withdraw services from the airline and this has been complied 100 per cent.”