In a recent announcement, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) asserts that it has successfully settled all verified claims by airlines, disbursing an additional $64.44 million to address the forex backlog.
Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, confirmed the total verified amount paid to the aviation sector now stands at $136.73 million.
The CBN, led by Governor Olayemi Cardoso, emphasizes its commitment to clearing backlog payments across sectors to restore confidence in the forex market. Despite CBN's optimistic outlook and calls to avoid speculation, foreign airlines dispute the claim, stating that not all trapped funds have been received.
The President of the Association of Foreign Airline Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN), Dr. Kingsley Nwokoma, demands a detailed breakdown of the "verifiable bids" and notes that the amounts paid are still "very tiny" compared to the airlines' overall outstanding debt, estimated to be above $800 million.