Nigeria positions oil sector amid Iran conflict With the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked and oil prices volatile, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister is engaging directly with Gulf producers. He urged them to view Nigeria not as a competitor but as a strategic diversification partner, arguing that the current market uncertainty presents a prime opportunity for Nigeria to leverage its position on the global stage.
Friday, March 13, 2026
Nigeria positions oil sector amid Iran conflict
Nigeria positions oil sector amid Iran conflict With the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked and oil prices volatile, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister is engaging directly with Gulf producers. He urged them to view Nigeria not as a competitor but as a strategic diversification partner, arguing that the current market uncertainty presents a prime opportunity for Nigeria to leverage its position on the global stage.
Four in 10 Nigerian adults live with hypertension
At least 40 per cent of Nigerian adults live with hypertension, highlighting the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.
This is according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Sunday.
The report, produced in line with the National Health Act 2014, highlights the persistent public health challenge posed by high blood pressure while noting some progress in awareness, screening and prevention efforts.
The report shows that while the prevalence of hypertension remains high, awareness of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases improved in 2025 compared with 2024.
The report attributed the improvement partly to intensified public health campaigns led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and professional health bodies.
These campaigns focused on educating Nigerians about the risks associated with high blood pressure and encouraging routine health checks.
By Zainab Adewale, Premium Times
This is according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Sunday.
The report, produced in line with the National Health Act 2014, highlights the persistent public health challenge posed by high blood pressure while noting some progress in awareness, screening and prevention efforts.
The report shows that while the prevalence of hypertension remains high, awareness of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases improved in 2025 compared with 2024.
The report attributed the improvement partly to intensified public health campaigns led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and professional health bodies.
These campaigns focused on educating Nigerians about the risks associated with high blood pressure and encouraging routine health checks.
Hypertension burden in Nigeria
Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is one of the world’s leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It is dubbed a “silent killer” because it often presents no symptoms until serious complications set in.
It remains one of the most common non-communicable diseases in Nigeria and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular complications such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 1.28 billion adults, aged 30-79 live with hypertension globally, with only one in five having it under control either through medication or addressing modifiable health risks.
The global health body also estimates that two-thirds of hypertensive adults live in low- and middle-income countries, where preventive screening and treatment remain limited.
While national data shows that about one in three Nigerian adults lives with high blood pressure, detailed breakdown for younger adults (20-35) remain limited.
However, doctors report increasing cases of hypertension in younger adults, signalling a shift in the pattern.
The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2023-2024, also confirm that approximately 30 per cent to 40 per cent of adults are living with high blood pressure.
Non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, are responsible for a growing share of deaths in the country. Cardiovascular diseases alone account for a significant proportion of these fatalities.
Health researchers also note that stroke, one of the most severe complications of uncontrolled hypertension, is a leading cause of death and disability in Nigeria.
Studies reported that hypertension is responsible for up to 80 per cent of stroke cases in some Nigerian hospital studies, highlighting the strong link between high blood pressure and stroke mortality.
Despite the high burden, awareness and treatment levels remain relatively low.
Health experts attribute the rising prevalence of hypertension to several lifestyle and environmental factors, including high salt consumption, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, harmful alcohol intake, physical inactivity and increasing rates of obesity associated with urbanisation.
Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is one of the world’s leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It is dubbed a “silent killer” because it often presents no symptoms until serious complications set in.
It remains one of the most common non-communicable diseases in Nigeria and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular complications such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 1.28 billion adults, aged 30-79 live with hypertension globally, with only one in five having it under control either through medication or addressing modifiable health risks.
The global health body also estimates that two-thirds of hypertensive adults live in low- and middle-income countries, where preventive screening and treatment remain limited.
While national data shows that about one in three Nigerian adults lives with high blood pressure, detailed breakdown for younger adults (20-35) remain limited.
However, doctors report increasing cases of hypertension in younger adults, signalling a shift in the pattern.
The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2023-2024, also confirm that approximately 30 per cent to 40 per cent of adults are living with high blood pressure.
Non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, are responsible for a growing share of deaths in the country. Cardiovascular diseases alone account for a significant proportion of these fatalities.
Health researchers also note that stroke, one of the most severe complications of uncontrolled hypertension, is a leading cause of death and disability in Nigeria.
Studies reported that hypertension is responsible for up to 80 per cent of stroke cases in some Nigerian hospital studies, highlighting the strong link between high blood pressure and stroke mortality.
Despite the high burden, awareness and treatment levels remain relatively low.
Health experts attribute the rising prevalence of hypertension to several lifestyle and environmental factors, including high salt consumption, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, harmful alcohol intake, physical inactivity and increasing rates of obesity associated with urbanisation.
Expanded screening at primary healthcare level
The report noted that the inclusion of non-communicable disease screening in selected primary healthcare facilities and community outreach programmes contributed to modest gains in early detection of hypertension and diabetes.
According to the report, these efforts were particularly targeted at men aged between 15 and 59 years, a group health authorities say often underutilises preventive health services.
It added that the ministry’s Family Health Department began integrating men’s health more deliberately into national health programmes to address specific risks affecting the male population.
The report noted that the inclusion of non-communicable disease screening in selected primary healthcare facilities and community outreach programmes contributed to modest gains in early detection of hypertension and diabetes.
According to the report, these efforts were particularly targeted at men aged between 15 and 59 years, a group health authorities say often underutilises preventive health services.
It added that the ministry’s Family Health Department began integrating men’s health more deliberately into national health programmes to address specific risks affecting the male population.
Mental health, substance abuse concerns
Beyond cardiovascular diseases, the report highlighted the growing burden of mental health and substance abuse disorders, particularly among men.
It estimated that about 14 million Nigerians live with a history of drug use, indicating a major public health challenge that requires coordinated interventions.
The report said prevention campaigns led by government agencies were intensified in 2025, with increased collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to strengthen public awareness and early intervention.
The report also recorded progress in efforts to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare.
According to the document, more than 3,000 primary healthcare workers across states were trained to identify common mental health conditions and strengthen referral systems.
The initiative aims to improve early detection and treatment of mental health disorders, especially in communities with limited access to specialised services.
Despite improvements in awareness and screening efforts, the report warned that significant gaps remain in early diagnosis, service utilisation and screening coverage, particularly for non-communicable diseases among men.
It emphasised the need for sustained investment in primary healthcare, health promotion and preventive services to reduce the growing burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
Beyond cardiovascular diseases, the report highlighted the growing burden of mental health and substance abuse disorders, particularly among men.
It estimated that about 14 million Nigerians live with a history of drug use, indicating a major public health challenge that requires coordinated interventions.
The report said prevention campaigns led by government agencies were intensified in 2025, with increased collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to strengthen public awareness and early intervention.
The report also recorded progress in efforts to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare.
According to the document, more than 3,000 primary healthcare workers across states were trained to identify common mental health conditions and strengthen referral systems.
The initiative aims to improve early detection and treatment of mental health disorders, especially in communities with limited access to specialised services.
Despite improvements in awareness and screening efforts, the report warned that significant gaps remain in early diagnosis, service utilisation and screening coverage, particularly for non-communicable diseases among men.
It emphasised the need for sustained investment in primary healthcare, health promotion and preventive services to reduce the growing burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
Nigeria begins evacuation of Its citizens stranded in Iran
Authorities say no Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the conflict so far and that officials are stationed at the Armenian border to assist all evacuees. The Nigerian government has begun evacuating its citizens stranded in Iran as Israeli and US bombings continue in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said Tuesday that no Nigerian in Iran has, so far, been affected by the conflict and that officials are posted at the Armenian border to receive and assist all evacuees. "Nigerians who wish to leave Iran are being safely escorted across the Armenian border by officials from the Nigerian embassy in Tehran, ensuring a smooth and secure passage for those wishing to depart," the Commission said in a statement.
It did not specify the number of Nigerians living in Iran nor the number of citizens already evacuated. African countries have rushed to repatriate their nationals from the Middle East. Tanzania evacuated the first group of its citizens from the United Arab Emirates on Monday. The evacuees expressed relief as they reunited with their families at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. Iran says the war has killed more than 1,255 people and injured about 10,000.
By Dominic Wabwireh, Africa News
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Nigeria Overhauls Cosmetic Safety Standards to Stem Health Crisis
Nigeria has launched a new national policy to regulate cosmetic safety, aiming to curb toxic chemical exposure and protect public health across the nation.
A shopper in a bustling market in Kano, seeking a solution for minor skin blemishes, purchases an unlabeled brightening oil from an unmarked vendor. She believes the product is organic, yet within weeks, the skin barrier is compromised, and the chemical composition—unknown to both the buyer and the seller—begins to leach heavy metals into her bloodstream. This scenario, repeated in millions of daily transactions across Nigeria, has become the catalyst for a radical shift in federal regulatory oversight.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially inaugurated the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, a landmark regulatory framework designed to sanitize an industry long plagued by the proliferation of toxic, counterfeit, and hazardous products. This policy, launched following approval at the 66th National Council on Health in Calabar, aims to dismantle the informal economy of dangerous substances that threaten public health. With the cosmetics sector in Nigeria valued at billions of naira, the initiative represents the most significant state intervention in the country’s beauty industry in two decades, positioning Abuja to curb a quiet health crisis that has fueled rising rates of skin diseases, kidney damage, and endocrine disruption across the nation.
A shopper in a bustling market in Kano, seeking a solution for minor skin blemishes, purchases an unlabeled brightening oil from an unmarked vendor. She believes the product is organic, yet within weeks, the skin barrier is compromised, and the chemical composition—unknown to both the buyer and the seller—begins to leach heavy metals into her bloodstream. This scenario, repeated in millions of daily transactions across Nigeria, has become the catalyst for a radical shift in federal regulatory oversight.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially inaugurated the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, a landmark regulatory framework designed to sanitize an industry long plagued by the proliferation of toxic, counterfeit, and hazardous products. This policy, launched following approval at the 66th National Council on Health in Calabar, aims to dismantle the informal economy of dangerous substances that threaten public health. With the cosmetics sector in Nigeria valued at billions of naira, the initiative represents the most significant state intervention in the country’s beauty industry in two decades, positioning Abuja to curb a quiet health crisis that has fueled rising rates of skin diseases, kidney damage, and endocrine disruption across the nation.
The Hidden Toxicity in Everyday Products
For decades, the Nigerian beauty market has operated with limited standardized supervision, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers and importers to flood the market with products containing banned preservatives and heavy metals. Public health experts have long warned that the cumulative exposure to these chemicals—often applied daily over years—creates long-term systemic risks far more dangerous than occasional pharmaceutical use. The new policy identifies specific threats that have become endemic to the local market:
For decades, the Nigerian beauty market has operated with limited standardized supervision, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers and importers to flood the market with products containing banned preservatives and heavy metals. Public health experts have long warned that the cumulative exposure to these chemicals—often applied daily over years—creates long-term systemic risks far more dangerous than occasional pharmaceutical use. The new policy identifies specific threats that have become endemic to the local market:
Formaldehyde-releasing agents: Used in some hair products, these are known carcinogens that have slipped past basic inspections.
Heavy metal contamination: Mercury and lead, frequently found in skin-lightening creams, have been linked to irreversible neurological and organ damage.
Endocrine disruptors: Parabens and phthalates in lotions and perfumes interfere with hormonal functions, impacting reproductive health and developmental outcomes.
Unregulated manufacturing: Back-alley mixing of potent chemicals has created a category of products that are effectively poison sold as wellness.
These substances are not merely irritants they are vectors for chronic illness. Research suggests that the informal beauty sector has thrived on a lack of transparency, where ‘organic’ labels are frequently used as marketing camouflage for synthetic, caustic ingredients. The new policy mandates a shift toward rigorous laboratory testing, clear labeling, and enforced manufacturing standards that align Nigeria with international benchmarks for consumer safety.
Heavy metal contamination: Mercury and lead, frequently found in skin-lightening creams, have been linked to irreversible neurological and organ damage.
Endocrine disruptors: Parabens and phthalates in lotions and perfumes interfere with hormonal functions, impacting reproductive health and developmental outcomes.
Unregulated manufacturing: Back-alley mixing of potent chemicals has created a category of products that are effectively poison sold as wellness.
These substances are not merely irritants they are vectors for chronic illness. Research suggests that the informal beauty sector has thrived on a lack of transparency, where ‘organic’ labels are frequently used as marketing camouflage for synthetic, caustic ingredients. The new policy mandates a shift toward rigorous laboratory testing, clear labeling, and enforced manufacturing standards that align Nigeria with international benchmarks for consumer safety.
NAFDAC and the Teeth of Enforcement
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has moved rapidly to operationalize the policy. Under the new directive, the agency has initiated a comprehensive sweep of imported and locally manufactured goods. Princewill Nsofor, the Deputy Director in charge of Cosmetics and Household Products, has issued a clear warning to stakeholders: no cosmetic product will circulate within the Nigerian market without stringent regulatory clearance. This represents a pivot from reactive policing—responding to outbreaks of skin damage—to proactive market surveillance.
The policy establishes a National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group, a body mandated to harmonize the efforts of various agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health. This institutional collaboration is intended to close the enforcement gaps that previously allowed unsafe products to migrate from ports of entry to rural markets unchecked. For the NAFDAC inspectors on the ground, the mandate is clear: identify, intercept, and eliminate substandard products. The agency has communicated that enforcement extends beyond major distributors to the micro-level markets, where the most vulnerable populations are often the primary consumers of high-risk items.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has moved rapidly to operationalize the policy. Under the new directive, the agency has initiated a comprehensive sweep of imported and locally manufactured goods. Princewill Nsofor, the Deputy Director in charge of Cosmetics and Household Products, has issued a clear warning to stakeholders: no cosmetic product will circulate within the Nigerian market without stringent regulatory clearance. This represents a pivot from reactive policing—responding to outbreaks of skin damage—to proactive market surveillance.
The policy establishes a National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group, a body mandated to harmonize the efforts of various agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health. This institutional collaboration is intended to close the enforcement gaps that previously allowed unsafe products to migrate from ports of entry to rural markets unchecked. For the NAFDAC inspectors on the ground, the mandate is clear: identify, intercept, and eliminate substandard products. The agency has communicated that enforcement extends beyond major distributors to the micro-level markets, where the most vulnerable populations are often the primary consumers of high-risk items.
Economic Implications for a Growing Sector
Nigeria’s beauty industry is a powerhouse of the African economy, serving as a critical entry point for international brands and a fertile ground for local entrepreneurship. However, the unchecked expansion of the sector has created a duality: a formal, regulated market and a parallel, shadow market that thrives on opacity. Industry analysts argue that the new policy, while initially disruptive, may provide the long-term infrastructure required for the sector to scale globally. By mandating safety compliance, the government is essentially raising the barrier to entry, which may squeeze out fly-by-night operators while providing a competitive advantage to legitimate, standardized Nigerian brands.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization and Resolve to Save Lives, have praised the policy as a pro-health and pro-industry framework. They contend that a safer, more transparent industry will increase consumer confidence, which is currently eroded by reports of cosmetic-related injuries. If Nigeria successfully executes this, the country could set a precedent for other nations in the Economic Community of West African States, demonstrating that strict safety regulation does not stifle growth but rather matures it into a sustainable, export-ready enterprise.
Nigeria’s beauty industry is a powerhouse of the African economy, serving as a critical entry point for international brands and a fertile ground for local entrepreneurship. However, the unchecked expansion of the sector has created a duality: a formal, regulated market and a parallel, shadow market that thrives on opacity. Industry analysts argue that the new policy, while initially disruptive, may provide the long-term infrastructure required for the sector to scale globally. By mandating safety compliance, the government is essentially raising the barrier to entry, which may squeeze out fly-by-night operators while providing a competitive advantage to legitimate, standardized Nigerian brands.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization and Resolve to Save Lives, have praised the policy as a pro-health and pro-industry framework. They contend that a safer, more transparent industry will increase consumer confidence, which is currently eroded by reports of cosmetic-related injuries. If Nigeria successfully executes this, the country could set a precedent for other nations in the Economic Community of West African States, demonstrating that strict safety regulation does not stifle growth but rather matures it into a sustainable, export-ready enterprise.
The Regional Mirror
The ripple effects of this policy will likely be felt far beyond Abuja. As a regional economic hub, Nigeria’s regulatory stance on consumer goods often dictates the flow of products across West Africa. For observers in Nairobi and other East African capitals, the Nigerian experiment offers a blueprint for balancing the demands of a rapid-growth consumer market with the necessity of public health protection. The challenges identified by Nigerian officials—specifically the difficulty of policing decentralized, informal markets—are common across the continent, where cross-border trade frequently outpaces regulatory capacity. Whether Nigeria can successfully translate policy into meaningful, on-the-ground change over the next five years will determine if this serves as a model or a missed opportunity.
As the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group begins its five-year tenure, the true test will not be the policy document itself, but the persistence of the enforcement teams on the streets of Lagos, Kano, and beyond. Every bottle of cream removed from a shelf or warning label enforced represents a potential medical crisis averted, marking a significant, albeit difficult, transition toward a more accountable consumer economy.
The ripple effects of this policy will likely be felt far beyond Abuja. As a regional economic hub, Nigeria’s regulatory stance on consumer goods often dictates the flow of products across West Africa. For observers in Nairobi and other East African capitals, the Nigerian experiment offers a blueprint for balancing the demands of a rapid-growth consumer market with the necessity of public health protection. The challenges identified by Nigerian officials—specifically the difficulty of policing decentralized, informal markets—are common across the continent, where cross-border trade frequently outpaces regulatory capacity. Whether Nigeria can successfully translate policy into meaningful, on-the-ground change over the next five years will determine if this serves as a model or a missed opportunity.
As the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group begins its five-year tenure, the true test will not be the policy document itself, but the persistence of the enforcement teams on the streets of Lagos, Kano, and beyond. Every bottle of cream removed from a shelf or warning label enforced represents a potential medical crisis averted, marking a significant, albeit difficult, transition toward a more accountable consumer economy.
Nigeria to recover $13.6mn from international airlines
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has given the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) two weeks to recover more than NGN18.98 billion naira (USD13.6 million) that foreign airlines owe to the government, according to multiple news reports.
The ultimatum was issued by the House Committee on Finance during a revenue monitoring session covering the 2023-2025 fiscal years, aimed at strengthening accountability among government agencies, as reported by newspapers such as Leadership, Vanguard, Daily Trust, and Punch.
They reported that the committee chairman, James Abiodun Faleke, had expressed concern that several international carriers had allegedly accumulated large debts for airport services despite a two-week payment deadline.
FAAN CEO Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku told lawmakers that the outstanding debt reflects service charges processed through the IATA Clearing House settlement platform and includes both current and overdue balances.
According to Kuku, airlines with significant outstanding payments include Qatar Airways and Lufthansa, each owing about NGN1.5 billion (USD1.1 million) and Virgin Atlantic with about NGN1.35 billion (USD970,000). KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, EgyptAir, and Ethiopian Airlines allegedly each owe more than NGN1 billion (USD718,000) in various charges.
Other airlines listed among the debtors include British Airways, Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, and Africa World Airlines, with debts ranging from NGN700 million (USD502,000) to NGN1 billion.
ch-aviation has reached out to IATA and each of the airlines for comment. The latest IATA ICH membership list includes all the above carriers, while only two from Nigeria, Air Peace and Overland Airways, are included.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "We’re working closely with our partners at FAAN to ensure any outstanding payments are resolved in line with agreed processes."
By Hilka Birns, ch-aviation
The ultimatum was issued by the House Committee on Finance during a revenue monitoring session covering the 2023-2025 fiscal years, aimed at strengthening accountability among government agencies, as reported by newspapers such as Leadership, Vanguard, Daily Trust, and Punch.
They reported that the committee chairman, James Abiodun Faleke, had expressed concern that several international carriers had allegedly accumulated large debts for airport services despite a two-week payment deadline.
FAAN CEO Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku told lawmakers that the outstanding debt reflects service charges processed through the IATA Clearing House settlement platform and includes both current and overdue balances.
According to Kuku, airlines with significant outstanding payments include Qatar Airways and Lufthansa, each owing about NGN1.5 billion (USD1.1 million) and Virgin Atlantic with about NGN1.35 billion (USD970,000). KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, EgyptAir, and Ethiopian Airlines allegedly each owe more than NGN1 billion (USD718,000) in various charges.
Other airlines listed among the debtors include British Airways, Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, and Africa World Airlines, with debts ranging from NGN700 million (USD502,000) to NGN1 billion.
ch-aviation has reached out to IATA and each of the airlines for comment. The latest IATA ICH membership list includes all the above carriers, while only two from Nigeria, Air Peace and Overland Airways, are included.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "We’re working closely with our partners at FAAN to ensure any outstanding payments are resolved in line with agreed processes."
Two-week window
According to the reports, the Nigerian lawmakers questioned why airlines were allowed to exceed the two-week payment window, with some debts reportedly exceeding 30 days, 90 days, or more than a year. They also asked whether penalties or interest were imposed on overdue payments and why airlines with longstanding debts are still allowed to operate in Nigeria.
Kuku said that international airline payments are processed through the global clearing system managed by IATA, which can sometimes delay settlements. She added that FAAN monitors outstanding balances and increases engagement with airlines once debts exceed 30 days, with stricter measures after 90 days.
She also claimed that FAAN had grounded some airlines that failed to meet payment obligations, particularly domestic carriers that do not operate under the same global credit arrangements.
Despite the explanation, the airport authority was told to recover the debts within two weeks and submit documentation on all debtor airlines. The committee warned that airlines could be summoned to appear before the House if the debts remain unpaid. "We need every kobo that belongs to this country," Faleke said.
According to the reports, the Nigerian lawmakers questioned why airlines were allowed to exceed the two-week payment window, with some debts reportedly exceeding 30 days, 90 days, or more than a year. They also asked whether penalties or interest were imposed on overdue payments and why airlines with longstanding debts are still allowed to operate in Nigeria.
Kuku said that international airline payments are processed through the global clearing system managed by IATA, which can sometimes delay settlements. She added that FAAN monitors outstanding balances and increases engagement with airlines once debts exceed 30 days, with stricter measures after 90 days.
She also claimed that FAAN had grounded some airlines that failed to meet payment obligations, particularly domestic carriers that do not operate under the same global credit arrangements.
Despite the explanation, the airport authority was told to recover the debts within two weeks and submit documentation on all debtor airlines. The committee warned that airlines could be summoned to appear before the House if the debts remain unpaid. "We need every kobo that belongs to this country," Faleke said.
Cleared funds
The situation reverses the conundrum international airlines serving Nigeria faced in recent years when the country topped the list of states worldwide blocking the repatriation of airline revenues in US dollars. At its peak in June 2023, Nigeria's blocked funds amounted to USD850 million, resulting in some airlines reducing their operations. However, in 2024, IATA reported that the blocked funds had been returned through constructive engagement and phased repatriation.
The situation reverses the conundrum international airlines serving Nigeria faced in recent years when the country topped the list of states worldwide blocking the repatriation of airline revenues in US dollars. At its peak in June 2023, Nigeria's blocked funds amounted to USD850 million, resulting in some airlines reducing their operations. However, in 2024, IATA reported that the blocked funds had been returned through constructive engagement and phased repatriation.
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