By Kenneth Ehigiator
Following the N18 billion debts owed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, by airlines, concessionaires and other users of the agency’s facilities, the Federal Government has given the debtors three years within which to pay up and warned them against accumulating new ones.

Aviation Minister, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, who dropped hint of government’s reprieve for the debtors during his maiden visit to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, where she commissioned the college’s new trainer aircraft and fire tender, also spoke of government’s plan to enthrone a new revenue generation system for FAAN.

Njeze said government’s decision to spread out payment of the debts was informed by the need not to squeeze particularly airlines out of existence.

According to her, the Federal Government now has zero tolerance for accumulation of new debts and will deal with any debtor appropriately henceforth.

“You are aware that airlines have been given three years within which to pay up their existing debts, while not accumulating new debts. These debts were accumulated in the past 20 years, and this is why they have been very difficult to collect.

“We hope the airlines, concessionaires and other airport users will pay their charges as at when due, from now, because government will no longer tolerate airlines and others not paying for services rendered them by FAAN and other agencies in the industry,” Njeze said.