The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) suspended ground handling services to XEJet Airlines on Sept. 28 over approximately 300 million naira in unpaid charges, the association said.

AGHAN President Olaniyi Adigun and Vice President Bashir Ahmed jointly directed member companies to halt operations for XEJet until the carrier settles its outstanding obligations or agrees to an acceptable repayment plan.

The withdrawal has begun disrupting XEJet's operations. Local media reported that some passengers' checked baggage was transferred to another domestic carrier for processing on affected flights.

What is the scope of the debt?

AGHAN has not disclosed how many months of service the 300 million naira covers, nor provided a breakdown by ground handling provider. At a domestic carrier's scale, the figure points to extended or escalating non-payment rather than a single disputed invoice.

Ground handling covers a range of below-the-wing services — baggage loading and unloading, pushback, ramp coordination and aircraft marshaling — that Nigerian-licensed carriers must contract out to certified handlers.

What triggered the enforcement?

The action escalates a broader AGHAN push. The association had issued a seven-day ultimatum earlier, demanding that carriers with outstanding balances pay at least 75% of what they owed. The remainder could be addressed through a formal repayment arrangement.

Several airlines complied by submitting payment plans or beginning settlements, and AGHAN held the wider suspension. XEJet, the association said, failed to meet its own agreed terms, triggering the targeted action.

"The association had instructed members to discontinue services after XEJet failed to meet its payment commitments," Adigun and Ahmed said in the joint statement.

What financial pressure is driving the action?

AGHAN cited rising equipment costs and employee expenses as the context for the suspension. The association argued that unpaid charges were restricting handlers' ability to invest in new equipment and improve staff welfare — framing the dispute as part of a wider squeeze on the ground handling sector rather than a one-off billing row.

What's the situation on the airline side?

XEJet had not publicly responded to the allegations as of Sept. 29. The PUNCH, a Lagos-based newspaper, reported that attempts to reach the airline's spokesperson were unsuccessful.

Without a functioning ground handler, a commercial flight generally cannot depart. The XEJet suspension therefore carries a hard operational ceiling that the carrier can only lift by settling its debt or negotiating a new repayment plan with AGHAN members.

Could more carriers face similar action?

AGHAN warned that other airlines could face similar suspensions if they fail to meet payment obligations, framing the XEJet case as the opening move of an enforcement campaign rather than an isolated dispute.

"Members will continue withholding services until the airline settles its outstanding obligations or reaches an acceptable repayment arrangement," the association said.

Whether XEJet negotiates publicly with the handlers in the coming days — or attempts to keep flying through alternative arrangements, a path with limited options under Nigeria's current ground handling regime — will determine how long the carrier's schedule remains grounded.