Business

Aviation ground handlers lift suspension on Max Air after debt negotiations, partial payment

Published

3 months ago

June 13, 2026

Preport

The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has lifted its suspension on services to Max Air, less than 24 hours after halting operations over unpaid debts.

The association said the decision followed progress in discussions with the airline, including the payment of a “substantial amount” of money out of its outstanding obligations to handling companies.

In a statement issued on Friday, AGHAN said the suspension was lifted after Max Air re-engaged with its members and committed to resolving its debt profile.

“We have to lift the handling suspension on Max Air after it commenced negotiations with our members and paid a substantial amount of money out of its debts,” the association said.

Ground handling companies provide critical airport services, including aircraft marshalling, baggage handling and ramp operations, which are essential to airline turnaround and safety compliance.

The development is coming just a day after the group withdrew handling services to the airline, citing prolonged unpaid debts it said have reached unsustainable levels and strained operations within the aviation support sector.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that AGHAN withdrew its services from Max Air on Thursday over the debts estimated at N1 billion.

The association had accused the airline of failing to engage meaningfully in repayment discussions at the time, while other indebted carriers were said to be making settlement plans.

AGHAN noted that the action was necessary after repeated efforts to recover the debt failed, warning that the issue, if not addressed, could undermine safety and operational efficiency at airports.

Despite lifting the suspension, the association said the underlying financial pressure facing ground handling companies remains unresolved.

ALSO READ: Aviation Ground Handlers withdraw services from Max Air over alleged N1 billion debt

AGHAN said its members continue to operate under rising costs arising from equipment procurement, foreign exchange exposure and operational overheads, while awaiting payments from airlines.

“We agree that the operating environment is tough for all operators, but we are not equally exempted from the challenge,” the statement disclosed.

It added that aviation services operate as an interconnected chain, warning that financial distress affecting any segment could have wider implications for safety and service delivery.

“The aviation industry is a chain and not about the airlines alone. Others too play major roles in the ecosystem and they need to survive,” the association said.

Related Topics:Air aviation Debt ground handlers lift Max negotiations partial payment suspension

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Business

Dangote Launches N2.15tn IPO, Targets 10 Million Retail Investors

Published

4 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Preport

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has launched a N2.15 trillion Initial Public Offer (IPO), targeting about 10 million retail investors, offering Nigerians and other Africans the opportunity to acquire shares in its 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery.

The offer, is made up of 4.1 billion ordinary shares priced at N525 each, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares valued at N5,250.

Chief Executive of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who spoke at the launch yesterday, said the offer was designed to raise additional capital for the refinery’s expansion while broadening public ownership of the business.

“This is the IPO for the people. There is no segregation on who can own the shares,” Dangote said.

He disclosed that the company plans to double the refinery’s capacity from 700,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, saying the expansion would increase production and strengthen the facility’s capacity to serve both domestic and international markets.

“The offer represents the refinery’s first public offer since its inauguration in 2023 and is the biggest IPO in Africa.”

He noted that the transaction would provide millions of Nigerians and other Africans with an opportunity to participate in the growth of the refinery.
While the Group Managing Director of Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., Mr Chuka Eseka, said the transaction had been structured to promote transparency, accountability and broad participation.

He explained that retail investors would be able to subscribe electronically through bank applications, internet platforms and stockbrokers, while institutional investors could subscribe electronically or through application forms submitted to receiving agents.

IPO Targets 10m Retail Investors
The Managing Director of FirstCap, Mr Ukandu Ukandu, disclosed that the offer is targeting about 10 million retail investors.

He said the target would significantly surpass the current Nigerian capital market record of about 181,000 retail participants in a single transaction.

Ukandu said the broad retail participation being targeted reflected the company’s desire to make ownership of the refinery accessible to ordinary Nigerians.

The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Mr David Bird, said the refinery’s strategic location within the Lekki Free Zone positioned it to serve Nigeria, West Africa and the wider international market.
“This is not just a refinery or petrochemical complex. This is truly a pan-African energy platform,” Bird said.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Capital, Oladele Sotubo, said the offer had been structured to enable ordinary Nigerians to acquire shares in the refinery.
SEC Approves Offer

The IPO, which has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is expected to open on September 14 and close on October 13, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the conditions contained in the offer documents.

Vetiva Advisory Services Ltd. is the Lead Issuing House and Lead Adviser, while Stanbic IBTC Capital and FirstCap are Joint Managers.

The company plans to list the shares on the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange Group.
Under the offer’s incentive structure, eligible retail investors may receive up to two additional shares, subject to applicable conditions.

The IPO represents a major development in Nigeria’s capital market and could significantly broaden retail participation while providing Dangote Refinery with additional capital to support its planned expansion.

The post Dangote Launches N2.15tn IPO, Targets 10 Million Retail Investors appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

Otedola speaks on FirstHoldCo’s inclusion in FTSE Frontier 50 Index

Published

12 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Preport

The Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola, has described the company’s inclusion in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index as a “defining milestone” in the evolution of the financial services group.

FirstHoldCo is scheduled to join the FTSE Frontier 50 Index, a benchmark tracking leading and investable companies across frontier markets, effective 21 September 2026.

The inclusion places FirstHoldCo among six Nigerian companies represented in the index. It is expected to strengthen its visibility among global institutional investors seeking exposure to Nigeria and other frontier markets.

Mr Otedola, in a statement issued on Monday, said the development affirmed the transformation the company is undertaking and the confidence investors continue to place in the institution.

“Our inclusion in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index is a defining milestone in FirstHoldCo’s evolution.

“It affirms the transformation we are driving, the confidence investors continue to place in our institution, and the strength of our governance and business model.

“We remain focused on building a stronger, more profitable and globally competitive financial services group, while delivering superior and sustainable value to shareholders,” he said.

The FTSE Frontier 50 Index comprises companies that meet stringent requirements relating to market capitalisation, liquidity, free float, governance and investability.

FirstHoldCo said its inclusion followed a period of strong market performance and sustained investor interest, supported by improved financial results, strategic execution, enhanced governance and its focus on long-term shareholder value.

The company said the development was more than an index listing, describing it as an independent recognition of its scale, governance standards, market depth and long-term value proposition.

It said the inclusion could also lead to deeper liquidity, increased participation by institutional investors and greater access to global capital.

Asset managers, exchange-traded funds, pension funds, and other investors that track frontier-market opportunities are expected to take a greater interest in the company as a result of its inclusion in the index.

The development comes after FirstHoldCo said it had met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum capital requirement.

The group said it remained focused on strengthening its capital base, improving financial resilience and creating capacity for accelerated growth.

Its strengthened balance sheet, expanding shareholder base and focus on disciplined execution, it said, would enable it to compete at a greater scale across its businesses.

The Group Managing Director of FirstHoldCo, Wale Oyedeji, said the achievement reflected the commitment and execution of the company’s board, management and employees.

READ ALSO: FirstHoldco, Dangote, four other Nigerian companies admitted to FTSE’s 50 most liquid frontier market stocks

“This achievement reflects the discipline, commitment and execution focus of our Board, Management and employees.

“It validates the progress we have made in strengthening performance, enhancing operations and positioning FirstHoldCo for sustainable growth,” Mr Oyedeji said.

According to him, the inclusion would elevate the company’s visibility among global institutional investors and reinforce its ambition to become a leading African financial services provider.

FirstHoldCo said it would continue to invest in digital transformation, customer experience, innovation and responsible business practices while maintaining its focus on sustainable growth and stakeholder value.

The company also said its emphasis on environmental, social and governance principles, workplace excellence and operational efficiency would further strengthen institutional confidence in the group.

With global investors becoming increasingly selective in allocating capital to frontier markets, FirstHoldCo said its inclusion in the index represented a significant recognition of its fundamentals, governance credentials, liquidity and growth trajectory.